andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach if with regard to his statement of 20th April, 1960, at Shanaghy, Ballina, of the Government's belief that the economic rehabilitation of the West of Ireland was a major task of national significance, and that the exceptional measures which had been adopted to achieve it were fully justified, he will state in reduced emigration since 1957 what these exceptional measures have achieved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Economic Rehabilitation of West of Ireland.
2.
It is not possible to estimate the net emigration from the West of Ireland since 1957. The results of the recent census, when available, will enable an estimate to be made of the net outward movement of population from that area since 1956.
Emigration and unemployment are, in the main, different aspects of the same national problem, and it is reasonable to assume that progress in promoting increased employment operates, although with some time-lag, to reduce emigration. While it is not possible to make a comprehensive estimate of the number of people employed in the West of Ireland today and in 1957, I would refer the Deputies to my answers to questions in this House on the 27th April, 1960, the 2nd November, 1960, and the 1st March, 1961, in which I detailed the exceptional measures which had been taken by the Government to promote the economic welfare of that area. Some of those measures, such as the allocation—since increased from £430,000 to £545,000—by Bord Fáilte Éireann for large-scale tourist development programmes in Counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Kerry and the West-Cork area, have a high employment content, but one not easily made the subject of a count of jobs provided. Others, such as Scéim na Muc, counter under-employment rather than unemployment, and could not, of their nature, be translated into employment statistics. Where they were available, I gave employment statistics, for example, in relation to projects approved under the Undeveloped Areas Acts. Whereas projects approved by An Foras Tionscal up to the 31st March, 1957, were expected to give employment to 2,687 persons, the projects approved by that body to date are expected to give employment to over 8,000 persons.
Is it not a fact that, in spite of the exceptional measures which have been adopted to reduce emigration in the West of Ireland, the rate of emigration has significantly increased since 1957?
No.
Is it not also a fact that the Taoiseach himself has now recognised that, by reason of his statement yesterday to the effect that the Government were now prepared to consider special measures to try to bring about an economic situation wherein the small farmers in the West of Ireland would be able to make an economic living? Is that not correct?
With regard to the exceptional measures mentioned by the Taoiseach, is he not aware that despite these, employment since 1957 has decreased by some thousands in the whole country?
No answer.
The number of persons registered as unemployed in Connaught has fallen considerably.
I am talking about the people in employment.
Could the Taoiseach, in mentioning the number of persons registered as unemployed, not have some regard to the vast number who are emigrating and seeking employment in Great Britain?
The possibility of emigration was always there. It was much heavier in 1957 than it is now.
Does the Taoiseach really believe that?
Yes.
If the Taoiseach asks any Deputy of his own Party who comes from the province of Connaught, I venture to swear that he would tell him that is not so. One of his own Deputies stated that he knew of seven houses sited on the Roscom-mon-Mayo border which had been evacuated by the families living in them.
Is it not a fact that the trend of emigration has changed completely since 1957? Entire families are now moving out, where merely a son or daughter emigrated heretofore.
Is the Taoiseach not aware that 4,000 tickets were issued for England in Waterford last year?