asked the Taoiseach if he will state, in regard to the independent inquiry made by the Central Statistics Office by postal questionnaires to a sample of agricultural holdings for the purposes of checking the June 1964 census turkey numbers (a) the full wording of the questionnaires, (b) the number posted in each county, (c) the number of replies from each county, (d) the resulting information from each county regarding the average number of turkeys (i) over and (ii) under six months old per holding, (e) if the holdings were representative as regards size of flocks according to the June census, (f) if in selecting the sample any preference was given to holdings on which, according to the June census, the number of turkeys was more than the national average per holding, and (g) the average number (i) over six months old and (ii) under six months old per holding in the Republic according to the June census.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turkey Census Questionnaires.
2.
The primary objective of the sample inquiry referred to at (a)-(f) of the question was to provide an independent check on the usual method of estimating the number of turkeys in the State. It was not designed for publication and it is not proposed to issue any details of the inquiry. The results were in complete conformity with the official figures.
As regards (g) of the Deputy's question, the estimated total number of turkeys in June, 1964 was 69,200 over six months old and 564,100 under six months old. The corresponding numbers of holdings with turkeys have not been compiled so that it is not possible to give the average number of each class of bird per holding.