asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of people in industrial employment in Dundalk, County Louth, in the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and to date in 1975.

I understand that official statistics are not available in respect of the information requested. However, on the basis of surveys carried out by the Industrial Development Authority it is estimated that the numbers employed in manufacturing industry in Dundalk at the beginning of January in each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 were 5,251, 5,975, 6,472 and 5,910 respectively. These surveys are only carried out at yearly intervals.