asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether there are any proposals for the establishment of new industries at Shannon Airport; the present numbers of male and female workers employed at the industrial estate; and what are the prospects of increasing industrial employment there in the immediate future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Industries.
8.
I am informed by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company that negotiations are proceeding with five new manufacturing and three new commercial concerns who have made proposals to establish operations at Shannon. In addition, six of the existing firms have undertaken or are planning expansion of their operations at Shannon.
The latest date for which figures of employment in the Shannon Industrial Estate are available is 31st May, 1966. The total number of people employed in the Industrial Estate on that date was 3,258, of whom 1,739 were males and 1,519 females.
The targets set by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company in the context of the Second Programme for Economic Expansion envisaged an annual increase in industrial employment at Shannon of about 500 persons. This rate of increase was in fact, exceeded in the first two years of the Programme (i.e. the two years ended 31st March, 1961). I am informed by the Company that, on the basis of the number of new industrial proposals now under consideration and of the expected expansion plans of existing firms, the increase of industrial employment in the current year will be well up to Second Programme targets.
Could the Minister say if the policy to which he referred about a year ago during the debate on his Estimate relating to the selectivity of industries at Shannon so that new industries being introduced will assist in generating more air freight traffic and have a higher male employment content still continues?
The company, SFADCO at all times tries to attract to the Industrial Estate at Shannon industries that specialise in air freight. If the Deputy will look at the figures published recently, he will see that there has been an increase in air freight traffic arising from the industrial development there. The policy is to encourage industries of that type at all times.