asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in the State whose incomes exceed (a) £6,500 and (b) £7,500 per annum.

The information requested by the Deputy, which presumably relates to incomes as assessed for tax purposes, is not available. Certain surtax statistics have, however, been extracted for the year of assessment 1966-67 which show that, as at 31st August, 1967, there were 1,818 persons assessed to surtax whose total incomes as defined for purposes of that tax exceeded £6,000 and 1,243 persons whose total incomes exceeded £7,000. The income assessable to surtax for 1966-67 would to a great extent have arisen in the preceding year.

Is that not misleading and useless information?

Why?

These are declared incomes for the purposes of income tax. Does the Minister tell us now that there are approximately 1,000 people who have incomes of £6,000 a year in this country?

There are practically 2,000 persons whom the income tax authorities assess for surtax whose total incomes are over £6,000 and 1,243 persons whose incomes, so assessed, exceed £7,000.

Of course that is cod. Related to income tax, yes, but to income, no.