asked the Taoiseach the number of persons who have emigrated from this country since 1st January, 1957.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Statistics.
5.
As has been explained on previous occasions, figures of gross emigration are not available, while reliable figures of net emigration, that is the excess of the number of emigrants over that of immigrants, are available only for the periods between Censuses of Population. Between the Census of Population in April, 1956, and that in April, 1966, the total net emigration was 292,608.
For periods subsequent to the April, 1966, Census of Population the only indicators available for net emigration are the figures for net outward passenger movement by sea and air which, as explained in my reply of 6th March, provide only a rough guide to the level of net emigration. Using these figures as trend indicators it may be estimated that net emigration in the years to April, 1967 and 1968, amounted to 15,000 and 18,000 persons respectively.