Vol. 398 No. 1
11 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied with the terms of reference of the Central Statistics Office; if there are other areas which he feels should be brought within the scope of the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am satisfied with the terms of reference of the Central Statistics Office. A five year strategy for the office covering the years 1988 to 1992 was drawn up by the National Statistics Board established by my predecessor in February 1986. The board's essential function consists of guiding the strategic direction of the Central Statistics Office with a mandate from Government to establish priorities in responding to the demand for official statistics. Their strategy report, which was accepted in full by the Government in 1988, was published in May 1988 and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. I see no reason to depart from the recommendations of the board which is composed of persons with special knowledge and expertise both in the compilation and analysis of statistics and in the various needs for statistics.
Is the Taoiseach aware of considerable delays by the Central Statistics Office in the publication of certain statistical information? I refer in particular to the census of industrial production which is in the region of three to four years late. Would the Taoiseach agree that there is a need not only to restructure the office but to provide, perhaps on a temporary basis, such staff as is necessary to bring their publications up to date?
The question refers to the terms of reference of the office, not to the actual administration.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the terms of reference can only be fulfilled in the context of the available resources and that to speak in terms of changes in terms of reference without providing necessary resources, is to speak emptily?
I am not speaking in terms of change in the terms of reference.
