asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will state in respect of each year 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980 the total number of persons employed as civil servants; and if he will give an estimate of the likely figure for 1990.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Estimates of future employment levels for 1990 are not available. I might add that the first year for which we have statistics is 1922, not 1920.

Following is the statement:

Notes:

(i) These figures include some contract and scale paid employees.

(ii) These figures include some industrial employees.

(iii) The earliest available statistical data is for 1922.