asked the Taoiseach to what degree the Government's implementation of the Programme for Economic Expansion has been successful in combating unemployment and emigration.
6.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Programme for Economic Expansion.
5.
asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied at this stage that the Government's proposals, as outlined in the Programme for Economic Expansion, are adequate without revision to ensure the requisite expansion in the national economy.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
As I informed the Deputy in reply to a similar question on March 23rd, 1960, the Government's Programme for Economic Expansion does not purport to be a detailed plan based on pre-determined production targets but, rather, an outline of the more important contributions to economic development proposed to be made by the State, the underlying principle being that the private sector will continue to be the principal source of new productive projects.
The elimination of the economic causes of emigration is a primary objective of the Government's Programme. The present level of emigration is a matter of gravest concern, although the available indications are that the position has improved somewhat relative to the mid-1950s. Unemployment and emigration are, in the main, different aspects of the same national problem and it is reasonable to assume that progress in reducing unemployment will operate, although with some time-lag, to reduce emigration as well. In this context, in particular, it is relevant to mention that the Government's Programme for Economic Expansion has been in full operation for less than two years.
The rate of unemployment in 1960 was the lowest ever recorded and, so far in 1961, there is a further improvement in this regard over 1960. The numbers engaged in Manufacturing Industries and in Industries Producing Transportable Goods were higher in 1960 than ever before. Average insurable employment, calculated from insurance stamp purchases in the months January to September, appears to have been 9,000 higher in 1960 than in 1959 and 18,000 higher in 1960 than in 1958. The economy generally has expanded substantially since 1958. In 1959 real national income is estimated to have increased by 3 per cent., and it is believed that 1960 will show a further increase of the order of 4 per cent. as compared with the annual increase of 2 per cent. assumed in the Programme for Economic Expansion.
The Government have never considered themselves to be bound rigidly by the terms of the Programme. For example, I would point out that, in the Programme, the public capital expenditure estimated for 1960/61 was £44.49 million, whereas in the 1960 Budget the provision was increased to £54.37 million. The Government have constantly under examination proposals for bringing about a further acceleration of the country's economic progress.
Could the Taoiseach give a figure for persons in employment, which is a very significant figure?
I think I have done that. In so far as the purchases of social insurance stamps are an indication of that position I have given the Deputy these figures.
Is it not a fact that there were some thousands less in over-all employment in 1960 than there were two years before, taking into account agricultural, industrial and other types of employment?
Is it not a fact that the Taoiseach has been in effective control of this particular policy since 1932 and since that time half a million to threequarters of a million people have emigrated and therefore is not this alleged prosperity just one gigantic bluff?