asked the Minister for the Public Service the percentage of the work force in the Republic of Ireland at present employed in the public service; and the work force employed in the public service in 1970.

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in tabular form below. The latest available information for the public sector work force relates to 1981.

Notes

(1) The public sector work force includes civil servants, teachers, members of the Defence Forces, Garda Síochána and employees of local authorities, health boards, voluntary hospitals, higher education institutions and State-sponsored bodies.

(2) This is based on the latest available figures for those at work, i.e. 1980 figures.