asked the Taoiseach if he will state from census or other data available to him the total number of dependents of persons in the following categories: (a) employees, (b) farmers, (c) relatives assisting on farms, (d) other self-employed persons, and (e) other employers.

Statistics of dependency were last compiled at the 1946 Census of Population when married and widowed men and widowed women were classified according to numbers of their dependent children under 16 years of age. It is possible, from the classifications prepared, to distinguish farmers and relatives assisting on farms but not the other categories specified by the Deputy. No information is available in respect of dependents other than children under 16 years. The particulars obtained at the 1946 Census are as follows:—

NUMBERS of families of married and widowed men and of widowed women and numbers of dependent children under 16 years of age, distinguishing between certain occupational groups, as returned at the 1946 Census.