asked the Taoiseach whether in view of the rising trend of unemployment and emigration he will state what plans the Government have to offset this situation by productive schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Plans to Offset Unemployment and Emigration.
The available statistical evidence does not support the premises on which the Deputy's question is based.
As regards unemployment, the number of persons on the live register does not disclose a rising trend when account is taken of the effect of the annual Employment Period Orders and the normal seasonal variations; the latest available figure — that for the 15th instant — is 64,459, as compared with 65,801 on the corresponding date last year and 69,926 on the corresponding date in 1956. It will be observed that the latest available figure for the live register shows a reduction of 5,467 compared with two years ago. In relation to emigration, as has been frequently explained in this House, it is not possible to compile annual figures and the latest available estimates of net emigration are those for the period 1951-1956, based on the Report of the Census of Population for April, 1956.
For the Government's plans in the matter, I would refer the Deputy to the White Paper entitled Programme for Economic Expansion which was laid before the Dáil on the 11th instant.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that he can get reliable figures for emigration from the British labour exchanges?
They might not always be reliable either.
If it were so, the Department would be quite aware of it.