Jim Higgins
Question:1 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the emigration/immigration figures for 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration-Immigration Figures.
The most recently published migration figures relate to the 12 month period to mid-April 1993 during which it is estimated that outward migration exceeded inward migration by 6,000 persons.
Official annual estimates of net migration are derived in conjunction with the population estimates for mid-April each year, taking account of appropriate data on births and deaths.
They are not obtained as the difference between separately estimated gross outward and inward flows. The Central Statistics Office is at present at an advanced stage in exploring the feasibility of estimating the gross flow data using the annual labour force surveys.
Accepting that 6,000 is the differential between outward and inward flows up to mid-April, does the Minister know from where the immigrants came or to where emigrants have gone?
I do not have that information. The net flows in one or other direction are based on different sources. They include the register of electors, payment of child allowances, surveys of estimates of migratory flows, new registrants from Ireland with both the national insurance scheme of Great Britain and the national health service and the registration of births and deaths.
We have discussed this matter before. Emigration and migration are matters of human resources. It should be possible to set up some type of precise statistical measurement, analysis or tracking system to establish to where people have emigrated and from where immigrants come. Such statistics should be compiled not only on a provincial basis but on a county by county basis to provide for social policy and economic planning and development.
There is a method of collecting such statistics, but I am sure Deputies and the public would reject it out of hand. It would involve introducing a system whereby everybody would have to account for their movements. People would have to give details of where they are travelling to or coming from each time they wanted to leave the country. Accurate statistics could only be compiled by the introduction of such a system. I am sure that nobody would support that type of procedure as it would not be practical or in keeping with the free movement of persons within the European Union. I am sure the Deputy is not suggesting such a measure but would accept a more realistic one. The labour force survey may provide some assistance in that regard. It will enable us to track the usual place of residence of people now and for the previous year. On that basis we will be able to estimate the number of people who have returned from abroad. That survey provides more accurate figures and goes as far as we can in the direction the Deputy wishes.
We now come to deal with questions nominated for priority for which a time limit of 20 minutes applies.