asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that great poverty exists in the Tour-makeady area because of the poor land and small farms; that the poor law valuations of the holdings range from 5/- to 20/-; if he is further aware that numbers of the people there have applied to go to England for seasonal work but have been refused; and, if so, if he will direct that they be allowed to emigrate from the following Tourmakeady districts: Letterineen, Churchfield, Treen, Greenaun, Glensaul, Garranagerra, Tonasgleana, Maamtreasna, Finney, Buncrock, Barnahowne, Glenmask, Derryveaney, Gortmore, and Shanvallacahill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration of Seasonal Workers.
I am aware that Tourmakeady is one of the least productive areas in the country and that men resident there, as elsewhere in rural areas, and normally employed in agriculture or turf production, other than those of the migratory class, have been refused emigration facilities under the restrictions in force for the control of emigration. The ban on the emigration of non-migratory agricultural workers from rural areas applies equally throughout the State and it is not proposed to exclude any particular area or areas from this restriction, although consideration will be given to individual cases where it can be shown that grave hardship exists.
The Deputy's attention is directed to the special register of agricultural and turf workers. Unemployed persons in the area mentioned who are willing to travel elsewhere within the State to secure employment should be advised to enrol on this register.
Is the Minister aware that considerable hardship exists in Co. Mayo and that, under the Emergency Powers Order, certain young men from different parts of the county have been refused permission to emigrate? As the Minister is aware, the number who availed of employment in the midlands at harvesting operations was very small. Is the Minister aware that within a few months a number of young men will be anxious to go to the hay and harvest in Great Britain, and they will not be able to go, owing to the regulations existing at present and the difficulty in defining what is a migratory labourer?
I do not think there is any difficulty whatever about the definition of migratory labourer. A very amplified definition has been circulated to the Gárda and, so far as I am aware, there has been no difficulty on their part in deciding whether an applicant came properly within that definition or not.
I understand that the applicant must be able to prove that either his father or brothers have been working in England within the last five years as migratory workers, in order to qualify. Take, for instance, a case of a young family where the father has not been able to go to England for the past five years owing to the fact that no member of his family was able to take his place at home. The son is now of an age to go to England and he is prevented because he cannot produce proof that his father has been working there for the past five years.
The purpose of the definition is to ensure that families which have this migratory tradition will be allowed to carry on the practice, but I would remind the Deputy of what I have already informed Deputy Moran, that consideration will in any event be given to individual cases, where it can be shown that grave hardship exists.