asked the Minister for Transport and Power (a) as at the latest date for which figures are available the number of people in actual employment in the Shannon Industrial Zone (i) in manufacturing, processing or in any way producing goods for export, and the different firms employing such people, and (ii) in building operations, and the greatest number employed at any time in (i) and (ii); (b) for the latest twelve months for which figures are available the value of the goods manufactured, processed or produced by firms in the Zone which have been exported; (c) the contribution over such twelve months' period made to the firms for such exports (i) by the State by way of grant, loan, remission of tax or other impost and (ii) by local authorities by way of remission of rates; and (d) the number of buildings erected in the Zone, at State expense or with State or local authority contributions, the cost of such buildings, and how many of them are at present in use for export business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Industrial Zone.
(a) On 30th June, 1962, the number of people employed in the Shannon Free Airport Industrial Estate in manufacturing, processing, or in any way producing goods for export was 1,203 and (ii) in factory building operations was 348. The figures mentioned at (i) and (ii) represent the greatest numbers employed at any time in these operations. Employment is given by the following manufacturing firms:—Lana-Knit (Ireland) Ltd., Progress (International) Ltd., Rippen Ltd., Shannon Diamond & Carbide Ltd., Sony Ltd., Spee Ltd., Standard Pressed Steel International Ltd. and Supersonic (Ireland) Ltd.
(b) As I indicated to the Deputy in my Reply to his Question of the 12th July, 1961, records were commenced on 1st July, 1961, and it had been hoped that export statistics would be available from that date onwards. I understand, however, from the Central Statistics Office, by whom the records are being compiled, that complete returns have not yet been received. I am not in a position therefore to say when export statistics will become available. For the Deputy's information, the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. Ltd. have estimated that the value of goods exported from the Industrial Estate in the financial year ended 31st March, 1962, was of the order of £3 million.
(c) Grants paid to industrialists under the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. Ltd. Acts, 1959 and 1961, up to 30th June, 1962, amounted to £375,000. No contribution was made to the firms for exports (i) by the State, but firms qualify for tax remissions under the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1958, and (ii) firms in the Estate are entitled to the usual remission of rates for new factory buildings.
(d) With the exception of the special factory constructed by Rippen Ltd. to their own specification, the factory bays in the zone are built to a standard design by the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. Ltd. and are financed out of State capital invested in the Company under the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. Ltd. Acts, 1959 and 1961. As at 30th June, 1962, twenty bays have been completed and a further seven were under construction. Expenditure up to 30th June, 1962, on the construction of factories amounted to £1.53 million. At present nineteen bays and one special factory are occupied by firms engaged on manufacture for export.