andDr. Hillery asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the industrial sites zone at Shannon Airport comes under the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, and, if not, whether he will consider adding this zone to the existing schedule; and if he will state the conditions under which sites will be allocated to interested parties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Development at Shannon Airport.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what extra facilities have recently been provided at Shannon Airport for industrial development.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the prices charged for factory sites at Shannon Airport.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 33, 34 and 35 together.
Sites suitable for industrial development are available at Shannon Airport at nominal rents, the tenant being liable of course for all other outgoings.
The Shannon Free Airport Development Authority has been specially set up to promote the development of business activities of all kinds at the airport, including the development of freight traffic and related industrial activities. The authority is at present undertaking a promotional campaign in this country and abroad to focus attention on the advantages of the airport for industrial development. As a customs-free airport, and as the nearest transatlantic airport to North America, Shannon is conveniently situated for development as a distribution centre for Europe.
The industrial sites zone at Shannon Airport is not included in the areas specified in Section 3 (2) of the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952. If, however, a concrete proposal is submitted for the establishment of an industry at Shannon Airport, and if An Foras Tionscal indicate that the project is of a kind for which the making of a grant would be favourably considered if it were located in an undeveloped area, I would be prepared to make the necessary Order under Section 3 (1) of the Act bringing the airport area within the scope of the Act so as to enable An Foras Tionscal to grant such facilities as it might deem appropriate.
That will be great news for the undeveloped areas.