asked the Taoiseach if emigration has re-started on a wide scale in Ireland; and the most recent statistics available on the subject over the past 12 months.

Dún Laoghaire): Direct information on actual migration flows, outwards and inwards, is not available. The only reliable estimates of migration flows are those for net migration between successive censuses of population. The estimates for these periods are obtained by relating intercensal population changes to data for births and deaths in the same period. In this way it was estimated that for the two-year intercensal period April 1979-April 1981 outward migration exceeded inward migration by 5,000.

For later periods only very tentative estimates can be made based on provisional population estimates. The provisional mid-April 1983 population estimate, the latest available, is 65,000 above the 1981 census figure. The natural increase—excess of births over deaths —in the same period was 76,000. Thus for April 1981-April 1983 it is tentatively estimated that outward migration exceeded inward migration by some 11,000.

I am sure the Minister of State will agree that this is a very unsatisfactory way of doing business and of finding out the statistics which are necessary for forward planning. I am sure he will accept that it must cause great concern to the Government and to the people that the scourge of emigration has returned at an alarming rate. Trends in recent months would indicate that there is a serious upsurge in emigration. Does he accept that this is a serious reflection on the total and abject failure of the Government to provide jobs for young people, not only for those who left school last year but for the 30,000 or so who will leave this year? They are left without hope.

This question relates only to statistics.

They see emigration as the only possible solution. Have the Government any solutions?

This is a statistical question dealing with statistical information.

If the Minister of State just gave statistics I would agree with the Chair but he went further than that. I ask the Minister of State to agree that the huge increase in emigration is a reflection on the total and abject failure of the Government.

I rule that question out of order in accordance with long-standing practice.

Am I not to get an answer from the Minister of State?

This question deals with statistics. The Deputy may put the information to another Minister.

I would agree that it is a statistical question if the Minister gave purely statistical information but he did not do so.

The Deputy should not argue with the Chair. There is another question, No. 324, on the Order Paper.

At the rate we are going we will not reach Question No. 324 until next October or November.

That is no fault of the Chair.

The people, particularly young people, are very concerned about the total and abject failure of the Government's policies. Emigration seems to be the only solution offered by the Government to the problem of ever-increasing unemployment.

The Deputy is totally out of order.

(Dún Laoghaire): I am only the stable lad. Somebody else rides the horse.

The Minister of State is getting fair protection.

The Minister said——

I would remind the Deputy that this question is purely a statistical one.