asked the Taoiseach the net movement of population as estimated by the Central Statistics Office for the year ended April, 1980.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Net Population Movement
12.
: The definitive position regarding the net movement of population for the year ended April 1980 cannot be established until the first results of the 1981 Census of Population become available next autumn. The Central Statistics Office has, however, prepared a provisional estimate of the total population for mid-April 1980 of 3,428,000. A tentative estimate of net migration for the 12 month period to mid-April 1980 can be derived from this figure. The 1980 population estimate is some 60,000 above the April 1979 level. As the natural increase—births less deaths—in the same period was 40,000, the tentative estimate of the net population movement in the year ended mid-April 1980 is a net inward flow of 20,000.
: Does the Central Statistics Office concern itself with passenger movements as distinct from the figures the Minister has given?
: The Deputy is questioning the net sea and air passenger movements for the calendar year 1979 and the difference between the outward movement of 3.003 million and the total inward movement of 2.977 million. From a comparison of corresponding data for the years 1971 to 1979 the definitive level of migration by passenger movements is not an accurate indicator of net migration. A statement to that effect was issued by the Government Press Office following a recent press article.
: I accept such figures are not dead accurate but they are a fair pointer. From the figures the Minister has given will he not accept that the passenger flow has been outward in the year we are talking about, by several tens of thousands?
: There has been an inward flow of 20,000 people.
: These figures cover ports and airports. The only passenger movements not covered by officially available figures are movements across the Border. Such figures are substantial enough to distort the figures in regard to ports and airports.