asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state (a) how many new factories have been started in Limerick City in the past two years; (b) how many shops have closed and the number of people who have lost their employment in the distributing trade in the same period in Limerick City.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Factories in Limerick.
As I explained in reply to a question addressed to me by Deputy Mulcahy on the 14th February, 1934, the normal source of statistical information relating to industrial undertakings is the Census of Production reports published by my Department. In formation in respect of variations in employment in the distributive trades is not available.
Is the Minister not in a position to say how many of the 100 new factories, which he told the House the other night had been established during his régime, or how many of the 300 workshops established during the last two years are situated in the City of Limerick?
The Deputy must await the report of the Census of Production.
Does the Minister suggest that the new factories established during the last two years will be specially dealt with in the next Census of Production?
No.
Surely, if the Minister is in a position to tell the House that 100 new factories have been established during the last two years he knows how many of them have been established in the City of Limerick?
And so does the Deputy, I am sure.