asked the Taoiseach what steps the Government are taking to reduce the number of unemployed in the country which has now reached the alarming total of 66,000.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Number Unemployed.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the increasing number of unemployed in Mayo where many people are forced to emigrate; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
In industry, in agriculture and in the services sector, particularly in tourism, the early months of the year show a seasonal slackness in employment. Because of the increasing numbers each year in insurable employment higher totals appear in the live register in the slack season both generally and in County Mayo.
The Third Programme for Economic and Social Expansion sets out the Government's plans to provide increased employment in the period up to 1972 in the context of the long-term aim to achieve full employment.
The Taoiseach's predecessor said that he was prepared to judge the success of his economic policies on his capacity to increase employment. Does the Taoiseach accept the same criterion?
Yes. We are increasing industrial employment and have done so by about 50,000 over a ten-year period.
Whom do you think you are fooling?
Is the Taoiseach aware that for some months past and at the present time people are emigrating by the hundred from County Mayo because work in the county council, forestry and other departments is being curtailed all the time? What special measure has the Taoiseach in mind to deal with this serious situation?
The hire purchase restructions will create even more unemployment.
Industrial employment in recent months has increased in County Mayo as a result of measures taken by the Department of Industry and Commerce and Gaeltarra Éireann, and the population generally has been increasing to a very satisfactory extent.
Is the Taoiseach aware this his Lordship the Archbishop of Tuam said that his predecessor had presided over the formation of the See of Tuam and he hoped he would not have to preside over its obsequies.
The Deputy can give the Archbishop my full assurance that he will not have to preside over its obsequies.
Does the Taoiseach not think that the hire purchase restrictions will further aggravate the unemployment position?
I do not believe so. The commodities which are the subject matter of the hire purchase restrictions were carefully chosen with a view to ensuring that there would not be unemployment or that if there would be some the minimum possible. The over-all economic benefit was what we had most in mind.
In fact, it was an expansionist measure?
Is the Taoiseach, therefore, telling us there will not be less employment, for example, in the motor car industry?
I do not think there will be, because the items were carefully selected to ensure the minimum possible effect on employment.