Michael Bell
Question:3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach whether he has directed that a special study be undertaken into the potential of the stone industry; if so, the date the study commenced; and the results achieved so far.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stone Industry.
At my request, the IDA set up, in March 1989, a task force to develop the stone industry.
The task force have carried out a national survey of available stone. Two reports on granite in Galway and Mayo have been completed and presented to the industry. Studies on granite in Donegal and Leinster are under way.
The task force is also working with the Irish Goods Council to increase the use of Irish stone in the construction industry in Ireland. An investigation is under way to quantify productive capacity and to identify additional home market business. On the export market, surveys have been carried out in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Arising from the study the Industrial Development Authority is encouraging and assisting companies to avail of opportunities and have negotiated the expansion of a number of enterprises which will generate new jobs.
The task force is continuing to help the industry, in a practical way, to exploit its potential for growth.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the amount of stone imported is very substantial and that this material should be produced here? What progress has been made in relation to the report? Will the final report itself be published for the information of the Oireachtas and the industry itself?
I agree with the Deputy about the need to eliminate imports of stone, but the Deputy should know that we are developing quite a good export business in stone. I have always been very keen on having developed the resource that Irish stone represents. Throughout Ireland we have a great variety of stone which has an almost infinite variety of uses today for construction and for industrial purposes. It was to see what could be done to get that resource fully utilised in the national interest that I established this task force and got the IDA fully involved. I believe we are making progress now and I will be glad to consider what is the best way to publish these reports so that we can arouse a maximum amount of public interest in our stone resources. I would also like to get them to the notice, as much as possible, of potential investors in the industry.