asked the Taoiseach why the latest information, as published in the June 1978Irish Statistical Bulletin under the heading “Industrial Inquiries”, relates to 1974; if he will indicate the usefulness of information published after such a time lag; and if steps can be taken to provide the information sooner.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Inquiries.
1.
The information published under the heading "Industrial Inquiries" on pages 126 to 145 of the June 1978Irish Statistical Bulletin relates to the monthly index numbers of industrial production up to March 1978, and the results of the quarterly industrial inquiry up to September 1977. Further results of the monthly inquiry up to June 1978, and of the quarterly inquiry up to March 1978 have been issued in stencilled form.
The information published under the heading "Industrial Production" on pages 109 to 126 of the same bulletin shows the detailed results of the 1974 Annual Census of Industrial Production as they become available.
There has been an exceptional delay in the case of the 1974 census results due to a change in the classification system being used to bring it into conformity with the more detailed system adopted by the European Communities. It was necessary to reclassify all the 1973 census details on the new basis as well, to provide a linkage between the new and the old systems.
The Annual Census of Production inquiry is dependent on very detailed returns based usually on the firms' final accounts. In many cases the basic returns are not furnished until some considerable time after the census year to which they relate. This time-lag has tended to increase in recent years, with consequential delays in the processing and publication of results.
Because of this the Central Statistics Office is appointing a number of officers to make direct contact with individual firms to ensure that returns are received with the minimum possible delay.
Can we have an assurance from the Minister of State that a delay of this length will not occur again?
I can give the Deputy that assurance.