asked the Taoiseach if he will state the net emigration figures and also the average each year for the census periods (a) 1926-1936, (b) 1936-1946, (c) 1946-1951 and (d) 1951-1956 and the total; and if he is in a position to indicate approximate figures for net emigration from 1956 to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Net Emigration Figures.
9.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement containing the desired information on net emigration in recent inter-censal periods.
No reliable estimates are available for net emigration subsequent to the 1956 Census. I have on several occasions explained in reply to questions by Deputies that it is not possible to prepare reliable estimates of total annual emigration in advance of inter-censal data and I have stated the reasons why this is so. I would refer to my reply to Deputies Russell and J. Murphy on 12th February, 1958 in which I drew attention to a series of previous replies on this subject.
Following is the statement:—
TOTAL and average annual net emigration in inter-censal periods from 1926 to 1956.
|
Period |
Total net emigration |
Average annual net emigration |
|
1926-1936 |
166,751 |
16,675 |
|
1936-1946 |
187,111 |
18,711 |
|
1946-1951 |
119,568 |
24,384 |
|
1951-1956 |
196,763 |
39,353 |
|
Total 1926-1956 |
670,193 |
22,340 |
Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain how, in view of the fact that he has no definite information as to the figures, members of the Government can say publicly, on the authority of information at their disposal, that the figures for emigration are going down since Fianna Fáil got back into Office?
They would say anything: that is the answer.