asked the Taoiseach the progress, if any, made in eliciting from Aer Lingus the figures for net passenger movement out of the State since February 1978.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aer Lingus Outward Passenger Movement.
4.
Most of the figures for the gross passenger flows inwards and outwards by air for 1978 have now been received by the Central Statistics Office.
Can the Minister of State tell the House what these figures are because it is only two or three weeks since we were told that the most recent figures related to February 1978?
That is a separate question.
It is only three weeks since we were told, I think by the Minister who is now on his feet, that he had no figures subsequent to February 1978. Up to what date have we now got complete figures?
I appreciate the Deputy's difficulties. My reply states that most of the figures for the gross passenger flows inwards and outwards by air have now been received. The problem was that we were not getting the figures for the inflow and outflow from Cork Airport. As a result of a commercial dispute at Cork Airport, we still have not been given the figures for the period May to October of last year. We have the figures for November and December of last year. In the economic series covering to the end of May we propose to publish all of last year's figures with the exclusion of the Cork figures.
Have the Central Statistics Office got any figures for 1979?
That is an ongoing matter. The supplying of details has resumed. I am in a position to give the Deputy figures of the net passenger movements by air and by air and sea up to the end of the year.
Would the Minister oblige the House with the figures for the net passenger outflow, if it is an outflow, from all airports bar Cork for the period in question?
Sea and air?
Sea and air.
The Deputy ought to be pleased to learn that the position for 1977 has been reversed. As an indicator of emigration or immigration, the figures show a net immigration figure of 12,000 whereas the previous figures show an overall net emigration of 12,000.
With all this flummery could we not have the figures on a half sheet of paper?
In view of the Deputy's special request I will arrange, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have the figures circulated with the Official Report.
Following are the figures requested:
Monthly net passenger balance by air (excluding Cork) (000) (+ indicates inward balance)
|
Month |
1977 |
1978 |
||
|
January |
- |
10.1 |
- |
9.5 |
|
February |
- |
1.2 |
+ |
0.1 |
|
March |
+ |
1.9 |
+ |
1.0 |
|
April |
- |
1.3 |
+ |
7.8 |
|
May |
+ |
6.8 |
+ |
3.4 |
|
June |
+ |
4.8 |
+ |
2.6 |
|
July |
+ |
20.2 |
+ |
27.5 |
|
August |
- |
21.9 |
- |
27.2 |
|
September |
- |
18.5 |
- |
16.1 |
|
October |
- |
5.9 |
+ |
5.3 |
|
November |
+ |
0.1 |
- |
1.9 |
|
December |
+ |
8.9 |
+ |
9.3 |
Net passenger balance by sea and air (excluding data for Cork Airport) (000) (+ indicates inward balance)
|
Twelve months ended: |
1977 |
1978 |
||
|
January |
- |
7.0 |
- |
13.2 |
|
February |
- |
8.0 |
- |
10.3 |
|
March |
- |
9.6 |
- |
6.4 |
|
April |
- |
8.6 |
+ |
1.6 |
|
May |
- |
9.5 |
+ |
5.5 |
|
June |
+ |
6.7 |
- |
0.3 |
|
July |
+ |
3.1 |
+ |
18.1 |
|
August |
- |
6.1 |
+ |
1.6 |
|
September |
- |
10.8 |
+ |
3.8 |
|
October |
- |
13.9 |
+ |
16.4 |
|
November |
- |
13.3 |
+ |
11.5 |
|
December |
- |
12.6 |
+ |
12.6 |
Note:
In view of the relatively substantial change in pattern in the figures between 1977 and 1978 and the particular problems raised by the interruption of the air statistics during 1978, the Central Statistics Office is conducting further inquiries into the background of the data. In interpreting the figures as a crude indicator of the level and trend of net migration it is therefore necessary to treat them with more than usual caution.