asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there are any plans in his Department for the establishment of an industrial estate at Sligo; if he is aware that an outside concern is interested in such a venture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo Industrial Estate.
36.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to a similar question by him on 10th November, 1965. As indicated in that reply, it is not envisaged that the setting up of industrial estates in locations other than at Waterford and Galway will be undertaken pending completion of surveys of various regions, one of which comprises Counties Sligo and Leitrim, under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.
I am aware that a private enterprise concern has indicated interest in Sligo as a possible location for an industrial estate operated by the concern itself.
Seeing that Sligo is the gateway to the west and accepted as such by everybody and seeing that this Party has pressed for an industrial estate for Sligo for so long and seeing that the establishment of the industrial estates was so long delayed by the Government, does the Minister not think that he should break through the red tape now and get the industrial estate established quickly, especially when somebody wants to come in?
There is no question of preventing private enterprise coming in and setting up an industry in Sligo. Indeed, they would be entitled to grants to enable them to operate a factory there but the question here is in relation to an estate operated by An Foras Tionscal and that, as I have said, is dependent on the completion of surveys which I understand will happen in a matter of months now.
But, of course, Sligo is the other place in the West where it must be and the Government will do it. They have delayed it for years. We told them to do it years ago.