asked the Taoiseach the total number of people at work at (a) the 31st March, 1956, (b) 31st March, 1972, (c) the total decrease over the period and (d) the reasons for the decrease.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Figures.
2.
The total number of people at work was 1,125,000 at mid-April, 1956 and 1,071,000 at mid-April, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available. The reduction between 1956 and 1971 was 54,000. A major factor in the reduction has been the fall of about 148,000 in the numbers engaged in agriculture which more than offset the increase of about 94,000 in the number of new jobs created in other sectors of the economy. The fall of 54,000 over the 15 years was made up of a fall of 41,000 in the year 1956-57 and a further fall averaging 7,900 a year up to 1961. Since then, there has been an increase averaging 1,850 a year.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not admit that the fact that there are 54,000 fewer people at work today than there were in 1956 shows the dismal record of the Fianna Fáil Party over the past 16 years? Is this the result of the First, Second and Third Programmes for Fianna Fáil economic contraction, because that is what they have proved to be?
The Deputy will recall I mentioned the figure of 41,000 in the year 1957 and that this was the last few months of the death throes of the inter-Party Government. These 41,000 people were irretrievably lost to this country because they had to emigrate arising out of the policies of the inter-Party Government. However, I have good news for the Deputy. I am sure he will be pleased to hear that with our proposed entry into the EEC——
Somebody else to save the people, not Fianna Fáil.
——and the conditions created therein, there should be an additional 50,000 jobs added to the economy by 1980.
50,000 unemployed.
Further arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's political reply, the question I have asked him refers to 16 years of uninterrupted Fianna Fáil government when 54,000 people lost their jobs. Furthermore, 200,000 emigrated to England since then.
That was in your own time.
Is he further aware that since Fianna Fáil came into power in 1932, 1,300,000 people have been driven out of the country? That is a lovely record which shows the dead hand of Fianna Fáil on this country. As long as the "Tacateers" and the speculators can do well, Fianna Fáil are not interested in the ordinary working man.
The Deputy should market that record.
It is a bad record for Fianna Fáil, who are now exposed.
3.
asked the Taoiseach the number on the live register on 31st March, 1969, and 31st March 1972, and the reason for the increase.
The number of persons on the live register at 28th March, 1969, was 62,283 and the number at 30th March, 1972, was 77,376. With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the numbers in the main industrial groups at mid-March for both years and the changes in the period. The industrial analysis is compiled in respect of midmonth dates.
Following is the statement:
NUMBER of persons on the live register at mid-March, 1969 and 1972 classified by industria group together with the changes over the period.
|
Industrial Group |
14th March, 1969 |
16th March, 1972 |
Change (+ increase –decrease) since |
|
Food |
3,279 |
4,071 |
+792 |
|
Drink |
546 |
576 |
+30 |
|
Tobacco |
137 |
133 |
–4 |
|
Textiles |
1,158 |
2,235 |
+1,077 |
|
Clothing |
1,825 |
2,749 |
+924 |
|
Skins and Leather, Rubber and Waterproof Goods |
286 |
351 |
+65 |
|
Woodworking and Furniture |
702 |
1,002 |
+300 |
|
Metal Manufactures and Engineering |
1,595 |
2,556 |
+971 |
|
Vehicles |
1,386 |
1,186 |
–200 |
|
Fertilisers, Chemicals, etc. |
426 |
546 |
+120 |
|
Papermaking, Stationery, Printing and Bookbinding |
622 |
720 |
+98 |
|
Mining and Quarrying |
451 |
522 |
+71 |
|
Bricks, Artificial Building Materials, Pottery and Glass |
476 |
446 |
–30 |
|
Building, Contracting and Works of Construction |
12,005 |
15,300 |
+3,295 |
|
Gas, Electricity and Water |
437 |
468 |
+31 |
|
Transport and Communication |
3,900 |
3,846 |
–54 |
|
Distributive Trades |
5,566 |
6,120 |
+554 |
|
Finance |
403 |
612 |
+209 |
|
Public Administration |
1,325 |
1,557 |
+232 |
|
Professions |
1,016 |
1,308 |
+292 |
|
Personal Services |
4,467 |
5,107 |
+640 |
|
Entertainments and Sports |
549 |
645 |
+96 |
|
Other Industries or Services |
1,193 |
1,692 |
+499 |
|
Agriculture |
21,400 |
21,934 |
+534 |
|
Fishing |
401 |
542 |
+141 |
|
Unspecified |
416 |
728 |
+312 |
|
TOTAL |
65,967 |
76,962 |
+10,995 |
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not admit that, with 77,000 unemployed at the date mentioned, or 76,000 at present, and 54,000 fewer jobs, the Fianna Fáil Government have been an abject failure over the years? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the people were promised 100,000 new jobs 16 years ago and that Fianna Fáil stated that their policy should be judged by the number of people employed, the number of new jobs created and the number on the unemployed register? Will he not admit that, on the figures available, his Government have been a complete failure?
The Deputy would not really expect me to admit that. Let me give one figure to the Deputy.
The figures I have given are correct.
The Deputy has been waffling for the past ten minutes——
And the Parliamentary Secretary is trying to waffle out of it now.
——but I have a number of interesting figures which the Deputy may like to juggle with at his ease. There is a figure for 2nd February, 1957, of 95,267 people out of work——
Give us 1947 when there were 145,000 people unemployed under Fianna Fáil.
——at the time of the dying gasp of the inter-party Government and that is why you are and will be over there.
There were 54,000 more people at work then than there are now.