asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the ratio between Ireland and the rest of the EEC of employment participation rates of women between 25 and 54 years of age.

It is not possible to answer the question in the form requested by the Deputy because the necessary information is not available. However, on the basis of available information, a comparison can be made between employment participation rates for women in Ireland and in the European Community as a whole. It is not possible to aggregate the various age groups between 25 and 54 years of age to provide an average participation rate for the whole group.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to have the reply which is in the form of a tabular statement circulated with the Official Report. Following is the statement:

Labour Force Participation rates among women (per cent) in the European Communities

Source: Labour Force Sample Survey, 1975, published by Statistical Office of the European Communities in 1977.

Does the reply indicate that the female participation rate is, as I stated, about half that of the rest of the EEC?

The Deputy will be able to see that when he reads the Official Report.

It would help me to frame some supplementaries.

The reply would help the Deputy and I will reply to any further questions he wishes to put to me.

15.