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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1943

Vol. 89 No. 18

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travel Permits for Unemployed Persons.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a number of unemployed persons from County Mayo, and more especially the Castlebar area, who are anxious to go to Great Britain to obtain work, have been refused leave to do so by his Department; and if he will state the principles which govern the action of his Department in giving or refusing such leave.

With regard to the first part of the Deputy's question I am not aware that emigration facilities have been refused by my Department to any unemployed person from County Mayo or elsewhere who was eligible to receive such facilities. As to the second part of the Deputy's question, statements in regard to restrictions on the emigration of persons to take up employment outside this country were widely published in the Press and announced by radio when the restrictions were imposed. Any person who, of his own initiative, notifies a local office of my Department of his desire to go to employment outside this country is, if he is not affected by the restrictions on emigration, granted the necessary facilities to enable him to apply for such work and, if successful in obtaining the work, to apply for a travel permit.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a number of persons who can get no work in Mayo are in fact being held up by the refusal of various officers of his Department to sign the necessary document?

I am not aware of any such thing.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary make inquiries and will he say why it is so very much easier in certain areas to get permits to go away than it is in others?

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