asked the Taoiseach the steps which are proposed to reduce the allocation in subheads A1 and D in the vote for the Central Statistics Office in 1989; if this will affect the quality of the service available from that office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Statistics Office Vote.
4.
There are cyclical aspects of activities undertaken by the Central Statistics Office which affect the level of resources allocated to it from year to year without affecting the quality of the service provided.
The reduction in the 1989 allocation under subhead A1 reflects mainly a decrease in headquarters staff needed for processing the 1986 Census of Population and 1987 Household Budget Survey records.
In 1988 the allocation under Subhead D provided for the final stage of field costs for the Household Budget Survey and for the field costs for the 1988 Census of Services. These will not arise in 1989. In addition there will be a reduction in the field costs for agricultural statistics following a changeover to a postal system of data collection.
Given that the cut under subhead A1 is 4 per cent and the cut under subhead D is 15 per cent which, adding a minimal inflation of about 3 per cent, makes for a 25 per cent reduction, 18 per cent in subhead D and 7 per cent in the other, how many people will be disemployed, as the Minister said fewer people would be required? Is there a question of people not being employed in 1989? Could the Minister tell the House the numbers of people who will not be employed?
The staff in the CSO fluctuate from year to year depending on the activities taking place. In 1988 there was a total staff of 500 which included 100 temporary staff who will not be required in 1989, the reason for that being that a household survey was taken in 1988 which will not be taken in 1989. The Deputy will see from the information that the 100 persons who were temporarily employed coincide with the percentage figure quoted by him.
Do I take it from that response that the 100 people who will not have jobs in the CSO next year are under subhead A.1 and that the reduction in the provision of subhead A.1 caters for 100 people fewer next year?
The answer to that is that a large number of people are employed on a very temporary basis by the CSO from year to year depending on the activities. Again from year to year, depending on the activities, a number of staff are employed on a temporary basis, which is the norm. That has been the case for many years. There is no change whatever in that policy.
I am not trying to embarrass the Minister——
You are not embarrassing me.
——but if he feels reluctant to admit that 100 people fewer will be employed in that section, would he clarify for me that those 100 people's wages is the reduction in subhead A.1 in the Vote? Secondly, will there be a reduction in numbers in the collection of statistics in the 15 per cent reduction under subhead D?
Under subhead A.1 the 100 people were employed in a temporary capacity and were taken on in 1988 for a specific purpose on the clear understanding that it was a temporary function that will not be required in 1989. With regard to the second question, because of the changeover in the procedure there will not be the same requirement for temporary staff either as far as the agricultural sector are concerned. We are talking purely about temporary staff who are employed on a very temporary basis to deal with a specific exercise.
May I ask——
We must have finality in respect of this question. A brief question from Deputy Spring and then Deputy Michael Noonan.
Having now established that 100 very temporary people, apparently, are being disemployed under subhead A.1, could the Minister clarify how many temporary or very temporary people are going to be disemployed under subhead D which because of a change to the postal procedure instead of calling at doors will mean obviously that there is going to be a reduction? Will the Minister give me that figure and I will ask no more questions?
I do not have that figure but perhaps Deputy Spring will understand and realise that where field statistics are concerned people are employed from time to time if the requirement arises. That requirement will not be there this year.
It makes me wonder why the Minister has not got the figure.
(Limerick East): In recognising the importance of the information supplied by the CSO to the Government for the purpose of making decisions, can the Minister of State assure the House that the CSO will have enough funds to enable them to reconcile the contradictory reports which are coming from the office? In the labour force survey the trend indicated for employment in industry is upward. In the more recent survey the trend indicated for manufacturing industry is downward. It will be impossible for the Government to form a policy on contradictory reports like that. Obviously, they have to be reconciled. Is there sufficient funding in the office to do that?
We are having an extension of this subject matter.
That really is a separate question. I would like to assure the Deputy that the quality of service provided by the CSO will continue and will not be affected in any way. If we felt that the quality would be affected we would take measures to ensure that that quality, which has been excellent over the years, would be maintained.
Question No. 5 please. I am going on to questions, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.