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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Oct 1945

Vol. 98 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workers' Travel Permits.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state in respect of each category of workers distinguishing between (a) the several skilled trades, and (b) unskilled workers, the number to whom permits were issued in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945 to take up employment in (a) Great Britain, and (b) Northern Ireland; and the total permits granted in each of the years mentioned.

A return giving the available figures will be circulated with the Official Report.

Return of the number of new Travel Permits issued for travel to Great Britain and the Six Counties, classified by the applicant's occupational group in the case of persons apparently going to employment, for each of the years 1940-1944 and from January to September, 1945.

Occupational Group

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945 (to 30th Sept.)

Males apparently going to employment—

Agriculture

5,408

1,773

4,767

3,588

1,361

2,779

Food, drink and tobacco industries

483

200

377

368

34

117

Textiles, clothing industries

254

191

279

213

21

92

Wood workers

713

1,448

1,231

754

141

348

Metal workers

863

1,402

1,734

1,147

186

231

Building industry

1,180

2,655

1,172

1,473

226

486

Clerks and other skilled workers

2,278

3,156

3,873

3,468

1,414

1,657

Unskilled workers (excluding Builders' Labourers)

5,901

21,035

23,830

18,310

4,340

4,624

Total males apparently going to employment

17,080

31,860

37,263

29,321

7,723

10,334

Other Males

4,268

3,648

6,441

5,677

4,674

5,128

TOTAL MALES

21,348

35,508

43,704

34,998

12,397

15,462

Females apparently going to employment:—

Agriculture

492

176

657

422

307

435

Nursing

1,634

785

2,233

2,838

1,125

2,418

Domestic service and house-keeping

5,285

1,343

6,037

9,125

2,760

2,958

Clerical work

348

179

461

363

107

147

Others

1,125

789

5,060

6,255

1,591

1,329

Total females apparently going to employment

8,884

3,272

14,448

19,003

5,890

7,287

Other Females

6,659

4,622

8,056

7,757

6,541

8,261

TOTAL FEMALES

15,543

7,894

22,504

26,760

12,431

15,548

Notes.

"Other Males" include visitors, agents, students, persons visiting sick relatives or going to funerals or weddings, auditors, civil servants, commercial travellers, soldiers on leave, etc.

"Other Females" were mostly visitors or persons going to see sick relatives or to join husbands.

By far the greater number of agricultural workers granted permits were seasonal migrants, who in 1944 accounted for 1,237 permits out of the total of 1,361.

Separate figures for Great Britain and the Six Counties are available only since the 1st May, 1942, and in respect of the total number of persons apparently going to employment. The figures are as follows:—

MALES

FEMALES

Great Britain

Six Counties

Total

Great Britain

Six Counties

Total

1942 (from 1st May)

18,542

3,219

21,761

9,766

1,202

10,968

1943

28,840

481

29,321

18,403

600

19,003

1944

7,518

205

7,723

5,742

148

5,890

1945 (to 30th Sept.)

10,275

59

10,334

7,234

53

7,287

Will the Taoiseach kindly clear up one matter for me? I take it that the statistics set out in the reply will contain particulars as to the number of permits issued to persons in the various years mentioned in the question?

Is it clear, or will it be made clear in the reply that where a permit is issued, it covers one citizen for one journey, or is it possible that one citizen going to and coming from Britain may have five separate permits over a period of five years?

I should imagine that it could happen. It is possible, but, I think, not likely. I will try to get further information on the point for the Deputy.

Take, for example, an agricultural labourer who goes to Britain each year, who comes back at the end of the year and who goes again the following year. Over a period of five years he has been there five times. Does that mean five permits, or is he registered and does the one permit cover him for five years?

It has to be renewed, and I do not know whether that is taken account of in the form in which the statistics are given. I understand that it takes account only of new permits.

The one person has one permit in these figures and he will not count for five in ascertaining the total?

Except in exceptional cases.

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