Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 6

Written Answers - Income Levels.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

25 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the average per capita income of Irish adults other than those adults whose incomes are included in the calculation of the average industrial wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25436/98]

The Taoiseach:

Fully comprehensive average earnings figures for all classes of employees and the self-employed are not available. However, estimates for the average earnings of employees in various sectors can be obtained from the CSO surveys of industry, services, etc. I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the average earnings for the most recent years available in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, in building and construction, in the public service, in banking, insurance and finance and in retail, wholesale and certain other services. Figures for industry are given for comparison. Some information on income from self-employment in farming and other sectors is also given for reference.

Following is the table:

Average annual wages and salaries of employees in certain sectors, 1995 to 1997.

	1995	1996	1997
Industry: industrial workers*	14,125	14,541	14,998
clerical and managerial workers	21,015	21,458	22,689
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	8,843	9,640	10,383
Building and construction	15,234	15,946	17,620
Public service (excluding health)	19,937	20,757	21,781
Banking, insurance and finance	20,111	20,789	21,377
Retail, wholesale and certain other services	10,831	11,454	n.a.

*Usually referred to as the average industrial wage.

Average family farm income as measured by Teagasc in the National Farm Survey was £9,644 in 1995, £10,920 in 1996 and £10,800 in 1997. Income from self-employment for other sectors is obtained from the national income statistics. It is estimated at £16,430 on average in 1995 and £16,933 in 1996.