asked the Minister for Labour, in view of the recent views expressed on emigration by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the plans, if any, he has to make the information pack on emigration Working Abroad available to post-primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Information.
3.
Each post-primary school throughout the country has been sent a copy of the booklet Working Abroad together with information cards on south-east England — the most asked about destination.
The booklet follows from my policy to discourage thoughtless, ill-prepared emigration. Experience shows that many who decide on impulse, to emigrate, find themselves later in very difficult situations. It is hoped that by encouraging young people to seek information and assistance from placement officers, the problems of unprepared emigration will be lessened.
Teachers have been advised to refer intending emigrants to the local National Manpower office, where information on other EEC countries, as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA is available.
I congratulate the Minister on producing this pack and thank him for circulating the pack to the schools since I put down the question. Would he consider making this pack available to travel agents?
Hand them out outside the Passport Office.
We do not need passports for England.
The circular to the schools recommends that pupils be sent for further counselling to the National Manpower Service. Is this an insinuation that teachers are not competent to counsel young people at secondary level? The Minister will realise that teachers are probably more aware of potential emigrants than anyone else.
I did not respond to the Deputy's request by circulating these packs. They were circulated some months ago.
Did the Minister send one to the Minister for Foreign Affairs?
We forwarded them to schools because a great number of guidance counsellors had asked for copies. We are not giving them out to everybody because it is usual for the National Manpower Service to advise those who call to their office about details in the documents. The document is not for general distribution. However, I should remark that guidance counsellors found it extremely useful and are using it in their classes.
Are there any plans to produce a second edition or to review the contents? I ask that question on the basis that, having met the Federation of Irish Societies, the Minister will be aware that they, while welcoming the publication of the booklet, expressed reservations about the contents. In particular, they have some doubts about the wisdom of some of the contact points suggested. Has the Minister any plans to take account of that advice?
The Deputy is correct. The booklet was published at the end of July and the federation, when they visited this House in September, made a point about some of the locations which I visited when I was in London. I should like to tell the Deputy that we will add a fly sheet to the back of the document correcting the information.
Another complaint was that the addresses of Irish embassies abroad were not given.
We will give them.
Will the Minister agree that the production of this pack amounts to an unannounced Government policy to encourage young people to do what the Minister for Foreign Affairs suggested some time ago, to emigrate? As Minister for Labour he should consider an alternative, the preparation of a programme of public works and investment in the public sector to create employment at home.
The only part of that question relevant to my Department concerns the publication of the document. I should like to tell the Deputy that it has been widely welcomed.
Not by me.
The Deputy must not be involved in trying to encourage people to go abroad.
I am involved in assisting people but not in trying to encourage them to go abroad.
The Deputy should note that many people leave this country without the benefit of advice. The pack, "Working Abroad", gives very valuable information and those involved have welcomed it. It does not encourage people to emigrate but accepts that many people are going abroad who are ill-informed. There is some valuable information contained in it.
From now on they will be leaving without proper education.
Will the Minister consider distributing the document to Irish centres providing services for emigrants in England and America where I am sure it would be welcomed?
The document is of benefit to those who intend leaving the country.
Surely the information in it would be valuable to our emigrants?
Not to those who have left but to those who intend leaving.
The Minister should consider Deputy Deenihan's suggestion.