asked the Minister for the Environment if statistics are available of the number and exact tenure of flat dwellers in every local authority, and, if not, if he proposes to obtain this information in the next census.

Statistics were not collected in the 1971 Census in the form mentioned by the Deputy. However, Table 15D of Volume VI of that census classifies permanent housing units by nature of occupancy for every local authority area. This classification distinguishes between the numbers of units rented from local authority, rented unfurnished other than from local authority, rented furnished, tenant purchase or vested cottage scheme, owner-occupied and occupied free of rent.

Regarding the final part of the question, the coverage of the 1979 Census will be limited to basic demographic characteristics such as age and sex and additional questions of the kind required by the Deputy will not be included in the census.

In view of the migration within the country and the impact on housing, would the Minister reconsider this aspect?

The local authorities already have registers of these.

I do not wish to dispute with the Minister but I would ask him to have a look at this and to consult with the larger local authorities. They have not any information which is adequate.