asked the Taoiseach the percentage domestic incomes in the following categories of population for a 12-month period to the latest convenient date: (a) wages and salaries, (b) farmers' incomes, (c) other domestic incomes and (d) industrial profits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Statistics of Incomes.
2.
The latest information available is that given for the year 1967 in the reply to a similar question by the Deputy on the 10th December, 1968 (Dáil Debates, Vol. 237, No. 13, Col. 2216).
3.
asked the Taoiseach the average weekly income in 1968 of those engaged (a) on the land and (b) in industry.
The average weekly earnings of industrial workers engaged in transportable goods industries was £13 8s 10d in the year ended September, 1968 (the latest period for which the data are available). This figure is derived from the data on weekly earnings collected in the quarterly industrial inquiries.
Agricultural income data in respect of 1968 are not yet available.
Would the Taoiseach not admit that the gap is widening and is it the intention of the Government to do anything about it?
Yes, the Government are doing so.
May we take it that something will be done about it in the Budget?
The Government's policy is directed towards ensuring that the earnings of the agricultural community are equated with the earnings of the other sections of the community.
If the Government's policy is directed in that way, why is it that the gap has been widening more and more during the past three or four years?
It is not widening.
Statistics show that it is widening.
Agricultural income last year was very good.