asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will further consider the advisability of recommending the establishment of a beet factory in New Ross, County Wexford, to give much needed employment in the town and to facilitate the many farmers who harvest beet in the county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Suggested New Sugar Factories.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the fact that there is not a market for all the potatoes produced in Donegal, he will urge upon Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta the necessity for the erection of a sugar factory in that county so that beet production could be undertaken by potato growers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
Before coming to a decision to extend the existing sugar factories, Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta, carefully considered the question of establishing a new manufacturing unit, but came to the conclusion that it would be preferable to extend the existing units. I could not see my way to recommending to the company that they should reverse this decision.
Is the Minister not aware that in recent years the managing director of the Sugar Company advocated that a factory should be set up in New Ross?
The estimate of the capital cost of increasing manufacturing capacity by establishing a new unit as compared with the cost by increasing existing units shows such a substantial difference that the idea of establishing a new unit could not be considered. It is at least five times.
Remember that the Minister for Finance is going over to see Mr. Butler.