asked the Minister for the Public Service the average public service employee wage in 1983.

5.

asked the Minister for the Public Service the projected average public service employee wage for 1984.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. Figures are not available for the average wage for a public service employee in 1983 nor for a projected average wage in 1984. However, the average cost to the Exchequer of the pay of a public service employee, including basic pay, overtime, allowances and employer's PRSI contributions, is estimated at £11,000 in 1983 and £11,900 in 1984. These estimates are based on the provisional budget outturn for 1983 and amounts included for pay in the 1984 Estimates for Public Services exclusive of the contingency provision for certain pay increases in Vote 50. The figures given relate to the non-industrial civil service, teachers, Defence Forces, Garda and health employees. In order to ensure comparability, pay costs of staff transferred to An Post and Bord Telecom Éireann have been excluded. I would emphasise that the figure for 1984 is necessarily very provisional.

Could the Minister give the total number in the public service for 1983 and 1984 on which he is basing his figures?

I do not seem to have that information but I will make it available to the Deputy.