asked the Taoiseach the total number of people that have emigrated from Ireland (a) since 1932 and (b) since 1956; and what plans the Government have to end emigration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Figures.
1.
The best available information on emigration is that derived from Census of Population results. It relates, not to individual years, but to inter-censal periods. Table 1 of Volume I of the Census of Population, 1966, gives the most up-to-date figures covering the periods mentioned in the Question. It will be observed from that Table that net emigration in the period 1961 to 1966 was very much lower than in the previous inter-censal periods.
I am satisfied that this reduction was due mainly to the Government's Programmes for Economic Expansion. As I stated in answer to a question addressed to me in this House on Wednesday last, the 15th May, 1968, in connection with the Government's plans to promote increased employment, the Third Programme for Economic Expansion will come into effect in January, 1969.