asked the Taoiseach the total population of the province of Connaught in the year 1955 and at the latest available date; and the reason for the decline.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Population Figures.
1.
As no Census of Population was taken in the year 1955, it is proposed to give the figure for 1956. According to the census taken in that year, the population of Connaught was 446,221 persons. The provisional figure for the population of the province, according to the census taken on the 17th April, 1966, was 401,518. It would not be possible to determine the general reasons for the decrease.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that it is due to the inactivity of the Government? Is he further aware that the present Government have been in office for 29 out of 35 years and during all that time there has been emigration and unemployment and the West is being denuded? Have the Government any plans to try to keep the people at home in the West? According to your figures——
The Deputy is not keeping up to date.
It will be most reassuring and gratifying to the Deputy to know that the percentage decline in Connaught's population in the last inter-censal period, between 1961 and 1966, was the second lowest in any period since 1881.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that over 45,000 have left in the past ten years? The Taoiseach stated that I have not been keeping up to date but the Taoiseach must realise that Fianna Fáil plans, promises and programmes are not keeping the people in the West. Has he any intention of backing up these plans and promises with action by the youngest Cabinet in Europe?
Yes——
A great proportion of the farmers in Connaught are under £20 in valuation and in order to keep them on the land an important step was taken by the Minister for Finance yesterday when he derated all farmers under £20, and the Deputy over there voted against it.
Question No. 2.
Despite all the plans and promises people are still leaving the West.
2.
asked the Taoiseach the population of each of the counties of Connaught and Counties Donegal and Kerry for each of the years 1932, 1947, 1951, 1954, 1956 and 1966.
Population figures are available only for those years in which censuses were taken, and these do not coincide in all cases with the years specified by the Deputy. I propose, with your permission, Sir, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the census years 1936, 1946, 1951, 1956 and 1966.
Following is the statement:
POPULATION of the Counties of Connaught and of Counties Donegal and Kerry at the 1936, 1946, 1951, 1956 and 1966* Censuses.
|
County |
1936 |
1946 |
1951 |
1956 |
1966* |
|
Galway |
168,198 |
165,201 |
160,204 |
155,553 |
148,190 |
|
Leitrim |
50,908 |
44,591 |
41,209 |
37,056 |
30,532 |
|
Mayo |
161,349 |
148,120 |
141,867 |
133,052 |
115,588 |
|
Roscommon |
77,566 |
72,510 |
68,102 |
63,710 |
56,130 |
|
Sligo |
67,447 |
62,375 |
60,513 |
56,850 |
51,078 |
|
Donegal |
142,310 |
136,317 |
131,530 |
122,059 |
108,486 |
|
Kerry |
139,834 |
133,893 |
126,644 |
122,072 |
112,642 |
*Provisional.
Is it not true that the population has been decreasing each year, with the exception of one?
I answered that question earlier.
The people cannot live on plans and promises alone. In Cromwell's time, it was "To Hell or to Connaught" and now it is to England or to hell with the people, under Fianna Fáil.