andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the fact that a notable feature of grant approvals for industry in recent years has been the drift away from the undeveloped areas in favour of the eastern part of the country, he will state what action he proposes to take to redress the balance and to promote the provision of industrial employment in the West.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Employment in the West.
26.
The published statutory reports of An Foras Tionscal do not indicate that the position is as stated by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that grants approved in 1962-63 for the undeveloped areas amounted to over £1,300,000, that the withdrawal of proposals in the same period was £825,000, leaving the net investment in new industrial potential in the west at only £450,000, while in the eastern part of the country grants totalling £2,119,000 were sanctioned? In the light of these figures and in view of the fact that since 1960 the picture has changed completely with regard to the proportion of what was spent in the undeveloped areas as against the rest of the country, would the Minister now say what steps he proposes to take to balance that situation in view of the necessity for development in the west of Ireland?
There is still a preference in favour of the undeveloped areas so far as grants up to £250,000 are concerned. In addition, over the period since the Acts have been in operation, some 25 per cent more projects have been established in the undeveloped areas than in the rest of the country. I am satisfied there is reasonable preference still available for the establishment of industries in western areas.
While on paper it would appear there is preferential treatment, does the Minister deny the accuracy of the figures I have given, figures which have been taken from Foras Tionscal and other reports? Does he not agree that in spite of the alleged preference given, it is not sufficient to weigh with industrialists at present and that consequently the eastern part of the country is getting a far greater proportion of State money — not that I object to that — than the remainder of the country? Will the Minister now state what steps the Government have in mind to redress the situation in favour of the west?
This Government initiated this particular provision for the undeveloped areas and have never forgotten the interests of those areas in the west, particularly with regard to the creation of new industries.
The Minister is the greatest joke of a Minister for a long time. He will be finished in Cork.
I shall not be finished in Cork for a very long time.
You will have to bring out the hurley stick again to show them who you are. It is a waste of time putting down questions.
While the Minister says that the Undeveloped Areas Act was introduced by his Government, is it not a fact, particularly in recent years, that the incentive has not been sufficient to get industrialists to go to the west of Ireland and, since it has been the declared policy of the Government to step in where private enterprise has failed, surely the Minister would now agree that the Government have a responsibility to establish State companies in the west of Ireland in order to do what private enterprise is clearly not doing and thereby causing the whole of the west to be completely denuded?
I can only repeat that the number of industries established in the west of Ireland far exceeds the number of industries established outside it with the aid of grants. In relation to the grants I may say that intensive capitalisation industries are not so much attracted to the west but to areas where there is a congregation of other industries from which they can draw kindred services. The type of industry that is attracted there is the labour-intensive industry and therein is an explanation of the fact that there may be more money by way of grants voted for industries in eastern parts of the country.