asked the Taoiseach the latest estimate of the net annual increase in the population of this country over each of the next three decades.

No official population projections are published for the State. However, projections are requested from time to time by the OECD and the most recent projections which were supplied to that organisation last year cover the period up to 1996. Two projections were made, one assuming that net emigration would gradually decline from the 1966-71 level and the other assuming zero net emigration over the entire period. On the former assumption the average annual rate of population growth obtained for the period 1971-96 is 1.0 per cent and on the latter assumption, 1.3 per cent. It should be noted that the results obtained in such projections are very much dependent on the assumptions on which they are based, particularly in regard to such factors as mortality, fertility, marriage and emigration rates.

How many variables has the Parliamentary Secretary in that answer?

I do not quite understand the Deputy's question.

It is quite a simple question. The Parliamentary Secretary is using about six variables and any one of them might go anyway.

There are many variables, as I have pointed out. Mortality, fertility, marriage and emigration would be amongst them. That would be four variables.

Then what is the Parliamentary Secretary's answer worth?

One per cent of an increase of population between 1971 and 1996.

No, it is not worth that.

If the Deputy can get a better answer, maybe he would reply to his own question.