asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total number of new factories in operation in the State over the past two years, the number promoted by Irish nationals only, the number promoted by foreigners and Irish nationals, the total amount of State grants given to these factories, the total amount in loans given by the State, and the number of (a) male and (b) female persons employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Factories.
22.
Eighty-eight new industrial enterprises, or extensions to existing industries, having a capital investment of £10,000 or over in each case, have come to notice as having commenced production in the period from 1st January, 1962 to 31st December, 1963. So far as can be ascertained, there is wholly foreign participation in 38 of these enterprises, 23 have joint Irish-foreign participation and 27 have been promoted by purely Irish interests.
Grants from An Foras Tionscal totalling over £3½ million and loans from the Industrial Credit Company, Ltd. totalling £2¼ million have been approved in respect of these projects.
According to the promoters' estimates the employment likely to be generated by these 88 enterprises ranges from 4,800 initially to 11,800 at the full production stage. Particulars of the current employment in these new industries and extensions are not available.
23.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total number of new factories in the course of construction, the names and location of such factories, and the estimated (a) male and (b) female employment that each factory will provide.
Twenty-four new factories have come to notice as being in course of construction on 31st March, 1964. The estimated ultimate employment content of these projects is 7,200, comprising 4,700 male and 2,500 female workers. There may, of course, be other cases of which there is no official record.
Industrial proposals must be treated as confidential and, consequently, I am unable to disclose the further particulars requested by the Deputy. I understand, however, that references have been made in the public Press to eleven of the projects mentioned, which are located in Counties Dublin, Cork, Louth, Kildare, Limerick and Wicklow.