asked the Taoiseach what immediate steps the Government have decided upon with a view to arresting the critical unemployment and emigration position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment and Emigration.
asked the Taoiseach if he is aware that the level of emigration from County Mayo has reached unprecedented heights, and, if so, whether the Government propose to take any practical steps to give immediate employment in the county.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I would refer the Deputies who have put down these questions to my replies to a question and supplementary questions addressed to me in this House on the 19th June, 1956, arising out of the position regarding emigration indicated in the Preliminary Report of the Census of Population, 1956; to the speech on the Estimate for my Department delivered by me on the 25th July, 1956; and to my address at a meeting held in Dublin on the 5th October, 1956, of which printed copies are now available in convenient form.
On all these occasions, I emphasised that it is the constant aim of Government policy to promote an expanding economy, with higher levels of agricultural and industrial production, an increasing surplus available for disposal on a competitive basis abroad and increased employment and improved living conditions at home. In my address of the 5th October, I announced a series of specific decisions taken by the Government, constituting a positive, practical and constructive policy, a programme of action designed for the achievement of the general aims which I had stated on the previous occasions referred to and on many earlier occasions. Where the decisions can be carried into effect by administrative action, such action has been and is being taken and will be continued with all possible speed; and, where legislation is required, the Government have directed that the preparation of the legislative proposals should receive priority at every stage, and the necessary Bills will be introduced in this House at the earliest possible moment.
Deputies may rest assured that the Government's measures for developing the national economy will be applied with full regard to the circumstances and particular difficulties of all individual areas of the country. As an indication of our concern in this regard, I may draw attention to my reference to "the accepted policy of decentralisation of industry", in connection with the location of new factory buildings qualifying for the grants announced in the course of my address, of the 5th October. In that address, I pointed out that, since June, 1954, the national policy of decentralisation of industry has been pressed vigorously ahead and that the results may be seen, in concrete form, in the undeveloped counties where factories assisted by State grants have been opened in the past few years. I added that, since June, 1954, three times as much capital has been provided by An Foras Tionscal to establish factories as was provided in the period of the previous Government and that, in addition, a number of other valuable projects are proceeding in the western areas.
Practical demonstration of the Government's anxiety for the welfare of the Gaeltacht areas, including the Mayo Gaeltacht, has been given by the establishment of the new Department of the Gaeltacht, whose function, as the House is aware, is to promote the cultural, social and economic welfare of the Gaeltacht.
The question I put was to ask the Taoiseach what immediate steps the Government had decided upon to relieve the unemployment and emigration position. The Taoiseach has now reiterated the long-term policy of the Government. Would the Taoiseach, in a few words, simply answer the question whether the Government has any immediate plans to solve the ever-growing weekly unemployment and emigration?
The Deputy's question is answered in full in the reply I have given.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, is it not a fact that, while the Taoiseach has been talking, unemployment has been growing and the people have been going? Is the Taoiseach's remedy for the present critical situation deluging the country with words while the people are going?
The Deputy is an expert at deluging with words.
Whatever about deluging the country with words, we have at least put forward a practical constructive proposal in an endeavour to solve both the emigration and the unemployment problems.
What has it produced?
Further arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, is the Taoiseach aware that State capital expenditure has fallen from £34.5 million in 1953-54 to £23.7 million in 1955-56?
There is no answer.