asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if his attention has been drawn to recent statements that the net emigration during the past 12 months was in the region of 13,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter, with particular reference to the number of young unemployed persons in that total.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Net Emigration .
3.
: I would refer the Deputy to the written reply which I gave on 13 June 1978 to a similar question as reported in columns 940 and 941 of the Official report.
In addition, I should like to say that the data on net passenger movement does not provide any information on the age groups or the economic status of those involved.
: Is the Minister aware that reference was made recently by an authoritative source to a figure of 1,400 net emigration for the past 12 months and would he not agree that inevitably some young persons were within that total and that the decrease in the number on the live register would reflect to some degree those who emigrated rather than to stay on the live register here.
: Yes. As I indicated in reply to a previous similar question, I have dealt with those matters and I see no point in going over the same role after such a short lapse of time.
: Even on the basis of inaccurate data regarding net passenger movements, but having regard to the fact that a figure of 1,400 has been asserted authoritatively now, would the Minister agree that an element of the decrease in the number on the live register could be attributed to those who emigrated rather than remaining at home on the dole?
: Yes. As I said on a previous occasion about two weeks ago when I dealt with this, there undoubtedly is some relationship between movements in all these areas but it is by no means as simple.
: Would the Minister consider getting his Department to ask the Irish Embassy in Britain to explore the possibility of discovering from English official agencies, such as those concerned with national insurance or with social welfare, their impressions with regard to the increase of Irish population in the kind of economic areas which would be here principally involved?
: I will certainly have the Deputy's suggestion followed up to establish its feasibility. It is always useful to have the most accurate and comprehensive information, but I have to remind the Deputy that the more important approach surely would be to take steps to ensure that it is not necessary for young people to emigrate.
: We do not disagree with that. It is important to obtain the facts. I am identifying one way in which the Minister might get some approximation since he does not evidently dispose of a mechanism for having them at his fingertips at the moment.
: I am conscious of the inadequacy of the statistical information in this area. As I said I will arrange to have the Deputy's suggestion followed up to establish its feasibility.