John Ellis
Ceist:11 Mr. Ellis asked the Taoiseach the number of people employed in the sawmilling industry in each of the years, 1991 to 1994. [15101/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sawmilling Employment.
The only information available is from the quarterly industrial inquiry conducted by the Central Statistics Office. This inquiry gives information on the combined activities of sawmilling; planing of wood and drying and seasoning of wood. The estimated number of persons engaged in these combined activities in mid-September of the years specified by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Year |
Number of persons engaged |
|
1991 |
1,300 |
|
1992 |
1,400 |
|
1993 |
1,200 |
|
1994 |
1,200 |
I am surprised the Minister presented employment statistics which show an increase and a decrease of approximately 100 persons. Given that he is unable to give accurate employment statistics for the timber industry, will he arrange for the position to be reviewed and return with correct information, particularly having regard to the fact that his colleague, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, said that in 1995 the number of jobs in that industry will increase by only 58, bringing the total employed in it to 1,258?
I am confident that the figures are accurate. The estimates I gave in the reply are derived from the quarterly industrial inquiry which covers establishments with three or more persons engaged in employment. The figures cover proprietors, unpaid family workers, administrative, clerical, technical and industrial workers employed directly in those establishments. I am confident those figures are pretty accurate.
"Pretty accurate" can mean figures being out by 100, 200 or more. Does the Minister of State not consider that he should be in a position to supply the exact statistics given that he has chosen a specific month annually, September, by which statistics should be submitted to the CSO?
As soon as I have the figures for 1995 I will give them to the Deputy. I am confident I can stand over those figures.
Does the Minister of State stand over those figures given the number of redundancies in that industry in 1994?
This question is being extended somewhat.
It relates to the same question. I stand over the accuracy of those figures.