asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the range of items currently used in the calculation of the consumer price index; if he considers that the present method of calculating the index takes adequate account of current conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In calculating the consumer price index account is taken of current changes in the cost of all categories of consumer expenditure, that is, food, drink, tobacco, clothing, footwear, fuel and light, housing, durable household goods, other goods, transport, services and related expenditure. The total number of items for which price changes are measured each quarter is 722. These are surveyed on a wide geographic basis covering 81 cities and towns throughout the country.

When were the individual items that were used for making the calculations for the index last reviewed and are there any proposals to have an ongoing review of the items included in calculating the index?

Yes. The price quotations on which the index is based are voluntarily provided each quarter by an extensive panel of retail and service outlets throughout the country. The quotations provided by individual concerns are treated as strictly confidential and are not provided by the CSO to any Government Department——

I am asking about the individual items of goods that are taken into account.

The review is taking place currently. In 1987 a large-scale national household budget survey covered approximately 8,000 households. It commenced in 1987 and will be completed in March 1988.