andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach the percentage increase in agricultural production between years 1922-1932, 1932-1942, 1942-1952 and 1952 to the most recent date for which statistics are available, and the over-all percentage increase in agricultural production from 1922 to the most recent date for which the figures are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increases in Agricultural Production.
8.
It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to changes in the volume of agricultural output, allowance having been made for the effect of price changes. Estimates of agricultural output are available for each year since 1934/35. They have not been compiled for earlier years with the exception of 1926/27 and 1929/30. It is not, therefore, possible to give the particulars requested by the Deputy in respect of each of the periods specified.
It can be stated however, that in the ten years between 1926/27 and 1936/37 the volume of agricultural output (including the output of turf and the value of the change in livestock numbers) is estimated to have increased by 2.7 per cent. Between 1936/37 and 1946 there was a decline of 5.9 per cent., while in the ten year period 1946 to 1956 the volume of output increased by 17.0 per cent.
In the ten years between 1942/43 and 1952 there was an increase of 7.3 per cent. in the volume of output, while in the seven years 1952-1959 the increase was 11.6 per cent. Over the whole period 1926/27 to 1959 the volume of agricultural output rose by 16.6 per cent.