Vol. 440 No. 8
3 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of townlands in counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan which showed a population presence in the 1926 census but which did not return a population presence in the 1991 census; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in a statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Number of populated townlands according to the 1926 Census of Population which were unpopulated according to the 1991 Census
|
County |
Number of Townlands |
|
Cavan |
129 |
|
Donegal |
170 |
|
Monaghan |
90 |
|
Total Ulster |
389 |
Will the Minister give the information contained in the statement to the House as I have a further question?
The number of populated townlands according to the 1926 census of population, which were unpopulated according to the 1991 census are as follows: Cavan, 129; Donegal, 170 and Monaghan, 90.
If one takes these figures in conjunction with the information given by the Minister in the House on Tuesday, 23 November last on the five Connacht counties, which showed a drop in population of 130,000 and the death, so to speak, of 759 townlands, it is patently obvious that areas which should be clean, green and a natural paradise in which to live are fast becoming a wilderness. Have these statistics been brought to the attention of the task force dealing with the bishops' crusade to ensure the survival of the west?
I want to help the Deputy on the figures involved but he is now entering the area of policy.
While they do not surprise me, the figures given by the Minister are alarming. Approximately 320 townlands in Cavan-Monaghan are now depopulated. What is the Government's policy to reverse this trend? Is it taking any cognisance of what is happening in rural areas, in particular, Cavan-Monaghan?
I want to help the Deputy——
It is a reasonable question to ask a Minister.
——but he will have to put down separate questions on policy.
Will the Minister not comment?
I have ruled that aspect of the matter out of order——
Will he allow this trend to continue?
——and the Minister of State may not refer to it.
I know he would like to comment on it and he should be given the freedom to do so.
The only comment I would make is that the Chief Whip always obeys the Chair and I hope that other Deputies will do likewise.
4 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the population of counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan as returned in the 1926 census and the 1991 census; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in a statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Following is the Statement:
Population of Counties Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan
|
County |
Population |
Change in population 1926-1991 |
||
|
1926 |
1991 |
Actual |
Percentage |
|
|
Cavan |
82,452 |
52,796 |
-29,656 |
-36.0 |
|
Donegal |
152,508 |
128,117 |
-24,391 |
-16.0 |
|
Monaghan |
65,131 |
51,293 |
-13,838 |
-21.2 |
|
Total |
300,091 |
232,206 |
-67,885 |
-22.6 |
Will the Minister give the information contained in the statement to the House as I wish to ask a supplementary?
The statistics are as follows: the population of Cavan in 1926 was 82,452 and in 1991, 52,796; the population of Donegal in 1926 was 152,508 and in 1991, 128,117; and the population of Monaghan in 1926 was 65,131 and in 1991, 51,293.
Will the Minister agree that these figures are frightening and that huge tracts of rural areas comprise nothing but tumble-down houses, briars, bachelors, set aside land, potholes——
And bullocks.
As there has been no question in respect of statistics I am proceeding to questions nominated for priority to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications. The questions we are about to embark upon are priority questions for which 20 minutes only are provided in Standing Orders.
