asked the Minister for Finance how he reconciles his estimate of the number of persons emigrating during the year ended 28th February, 1959, with (a) the reduction in numbers in employment, (b) the natural increase in the population, (c) the increased number of persons available for employment, and (d) the number of persons unemployed during the same period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Statistics.
13.
No official estimate of employment is yet available for the year ended 28th February, 1959, and, accordingly, no question of reconciliation arises.
The estimates of the numbers at work in 1958 and earlier years, given in Table 12 of the Economic Statistics issued prior to this year's Budget, rely on basic data collected at the census of population in April, 1951, and represent the position in April of each year. The estimate for April, 1958, is the latest available.
I understand from the Central Statistics Office that the April 1959, estimate cannot be prepared until the employment figures for agriculture are available from the annual Agricultural Census which will be held in June next.
With reference to the Minister's recent statement during the Budget discussion, how does the Minister reconcile that, according to his statement, emigration during the twelve months ending February was reduced to 33,000, which approximately equals the natural increase in the population, and at the same time there are 10,000 fewer people at work and 5,000 fewer people available for employment? There are 15,000 persons who apparently cannot be accounted for.
I think the Deputy was here when I was speaking at the conclusion of the debate. I went into that matter in great detail. I said that the figures for employment which will be published in 1959 should show an increase. Otherwise, I could not reconcile these figures.