asked the Taoiseach whether all the fees due to census enumerators in respect of the 1979 limited census have been paid, and, if not, why.

The fees due to census enumerators are being paid on an instalment basis. To date three such payments have been made in practically all cases and a fourth is about to be issued. A fifth and final instalment will be made as soon as possible but this must await an overall assessment of each enumerator's work and must also take account of liability for income tax and social security deductions.

Is it so that the returns of each enumerator have not yet been scrutinised?

That would not arise. It will be determined in relation to the fifth instalment.

If they have done what was expected of them why have they not been paid? Is the Minister so strapped for money that he cannot even pay the census enumerators?

There is no question about that.

Why can they not be paid for what they have done?

There has not been any delay. In almost all cases three instalments have been paid. In cases where it has not been paid they were not entitled to it because of the amount of work they had to do in the first place. If the Deputy would sit down I would reply to him, if he does not mind. All fourth instalments due will be paid in early June and the fifth and final instalment must await the assessment of the enumerator's work, because it is a bonus for the work they have done.

Is there any reason to delay the fourth instalment?

There has not been a delay. The calculation is determined by their liability to income tax or social security contributions.