asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having made an order designating Ennis, County Clare, as an undeveloped area under the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, he will now make a similar order in respect of Limerick City and County.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Undeveloped Area Order for Limerick.
3.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to a similar question by him on the 6th November, 1958.
Would the Minister not agree that the position in regard to Limerick City is now becoming more invidious due to the extension of the provisions of the Undeveloped Areas Act to Ennis, which is quite close to Limerick? Am I to take it that the Minister will not reconsider his decision to extend the provisions of the Act to Limerick?
No doubt the Deputy will have noted, in the White Paper on Economic Expansion, the announcement that the Government are, in fact, reconsidering the legislation applying in that respect and that proposals for new legislation will be before the Dáil shortly.
Meanwhile, would the Minister be prepared to consider, in the case of individual industrial proposals from the Limerick area, applying the provisions of the Undeveloped Areas Act? If he gets a definite proposal for an industry manufacturing for export or giving substantial employment would he agree to consider that case?
I gave the Deputy a fairly full reply previously. I am not altogether unfavourable.
Is it a fact that Ennis and County Clare can be described as undeveloped areas, in spite of the fact that the Taoiseach has represented that constituency for nearly 40 years?
That does not arise.
Is that not fair comment?