asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the loss of employment in the Limerick region recently, he will take steps to provide employment for the people now becoming redundant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Employment Situation.
62.
Since January, 1974, six new industries have been or are about to be set up in the Limerick area with a job potential of 776. In addition expansions of four existing firms are planned to provide 630 new jobs.
Employment in the Limerick region will be affected by developments in the mid-west region generally. In that region other than the Limerick area 13 new industries have been or are about to be set up which are expected to give employment to about 2,010 workers at full production. In addition expansions of eight existing firms will give employment to approximately 610 additional workers.
Is the Minister aware, because one would think listening to his reply that he is not so aware, that 1,066 people have become redundant in Limerick city and Shannon Airport in the past month or two, that a further fairly sizeable number are expected to become redundant within the next few months? Is he also aware that the sort of industries he is talking about being established will not in some cases be in production for upwards of two years and that, in any event, the great bulk of those who have lost their employment are clothing workers with long experience and skill in the trade who are incapable of turning to any other form of employment and what will he do to try to ensure some form of employment for those people?
I am concerned, as the Deputy is and as other public representatives for the area are, with the employment situation in Limerick particularly with the situation in the clothing industry. There is in the general list of firms in Limerick and in the mid-west region as a whole a significant prospect of growth in textiles. The figures that I have given in detail, and Deputies know that if they want more precise breakdowns of those figures they are available too, indicate a very significant effort and a very large investment of public moneys by the IDA in solving the employment problems of Limerick.
The Deputy is probably also aware that some of the difficulties being encountered now are difficulties that were long ago predicted when examinations were made of particularly sensitive sectors of our industry and some of the current difficulties are a result of failures to take advice as much as five years ago in regard to increased rationalisation, increased efficiency. The best cure in those circumstances is the establishment of an industry which is well managed and which is viable but I do want to assure him of the continued concern with the region and of the very large volume both of effort and of investment that is going into it to remedy the difficulties that are currently appearing in it.
The Minister refers to good prospects for growth in textiles in Limerick. Considering there is ony one clothing factory now left out of three major factories what precisely are those prospects for growth? Surely there are none?
The largest textile firm in the world with a job potential of 450—and since it is such a large firm, if it has good experience, there is no reason why it should stop there —is at present considering the matter of physical development of a site in the Limerick area.
It could not open before December, 1976.
I do not think, in view of that fact, of which he is as well aware as I am, that the Deputy's previous comment is either accurate or fair.