asked the Taoiseach, in relation to the forthcoming census, the changes, if any, that are proposed in the questions form of that section of the census dealing with employment and occupation.

As indicated in replies to parliamentary questions on 28 February and on 7 March 1978 the contents of the 1979 Census will be limited to basic demographic characteristics, such as age, sex and marital status.

Would the Minister agree that the information on employment and occupation is essential if we are to plan true full employment and if we are to know the true extent of unemployment?

I agree that if we had had the census that should have been taken in 1976 giving us all those details, it would have been extremely beneficial at this stage. We will have that information in the 1981 Census.

If what the Minister says is true why are employment and occupation statistics not included in this census? Is the Minister afraid to let the people know the extent of unemployment?

What we are doing here is trying to catch up in some way on what we missed out on two years ago. There will be a full ten yearly census in 1981. It would be rather ridiculous to do this every two years.