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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Nov 1966

Vol. 225 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Incomes and Profits.

3.

asked the Taoiseach the percentage domestic incomes in the following categories of the population for a 12 month period to the latest convenient date: (a) wages and salaries, (b) farmers' income, (c) other domestic incomes and (d) industrial profits.

With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested by the Deputy for 1964 and 1965 in so far as it is available.

Following is the statement:

PERCENTAGE distribution of domestic income

Type of Income

1964

1965

%

%

Wages and salaries

59.2

59.7

Income from self- employment and other trading income from Agriculture and Fishing.

19.6

18.7

Industrial profits

7.2

21.6

Other income

14.0

TOTAL*

100.0

100.0

* Before adjustment for stock appreciation.

Is it not true that despite the fact that farmers represent 30 per cent of the population they are responsible for 75 per cent of our exports and are getting less than one-fifth of the national income?

That is a separate question.

The Parliamentary Secretary has the figures before him and can he not say whether the farmers——

It does not arise from the Deputy's question.

4.

asked the Taoiseach the average weekly income in 1965 of those engaged (a) on the land and (b) in industry.

In 1965 the average weekly earnings of industrial workers engaged in transportable goods industries was £10 15s 8d. This figure is derived from the data on weekly earnings collected in the four quarterly industrial inquiries.

No comparable series exists in respect of agricultural activity for which the information available is in a different form. In 1965, the estimated total income arising in agriculture, excluding land annuities, was £159.3 million; this covers wages and salaries of employees and income from self-employment and other trading income in agriculture as defined in the national accounts. The estimated number of persons whose principal occupation was in agriculture in 1965 was 330,000. These two aggregates, which are not strictly comparable in scope and coverage, yield an average of £9 5s 8d per week.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what are the wage rates of agricultural labourers?

I was not asked that question.

The Parliamentary Secretary is being asked it now.

It does not arise on this question.

Surely the Taoiseach is aware that the gap is growing larger, and in view of the repeated promises of the Government to narrow the gap, could the Taoiseach now inform us if they have any plan or policy to increase the incomes of small farmers so that this gap can be narrowed?

That is a separate question.

The Government have told us on numerous occasions of their intention——

It does not arise here. The supplementary question is out of order.

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