asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether sanction has issued from his Department for the establishment of canning or open-pack meat factories at Balbriggan; and, if so, if he will state (a) the number of each type of such factory to be established, (b) the potential volume of employment to be provided by these projects, and (c) whether any such proposals have been rejected by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proposed Balbriggan Factory.
As regards the first part of the question, my Department was approached some time ago by a firm proposing to erect a premises at Balbriggan for the export of open-pack meats and the Department intimated that it has no objection to the building site selected there for the purpose. The Department also intimated that the plans of the premises should be submitted for its approval but these have not yet been received.
As regards the second part of the question, the position is:—(a) the foregoing premises only, (b) this information is not available, (c) no such proposal has been rejected.
A second firm has been in communication with my Department about establishing at Balbriggan a cattle and sheep slaughtering premises for the export of carcase meat, but as the final plans of the premises have not been received, I am unable to say whether provision is being made thereat for facilities to export canned or open-pack meats.