asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of new industries set up in the past ten years; and the employment given by them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of Industries.
54.
In the ten years ended 31st December, 1968, four hundred and forty-two new industries and extensions to existing industries (excluding projects in which the capital investment is less than £10,000 in each case) came to notice as having commenced production. These industries and extensions, when at full production, are expected to provide employment for some 48,000 persons.
Is the Minister aware that those factories came here due to the incentives given in the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and Industrial Grants Act of 1956 which were introduced by Deputy Gerard Sweetman, who was then Minister for Finance, and which were condemned at the time by Deputy Seán Lemass, who promised to remove them from the Statute Book? Is it not true that they have since worked very well, both in the interests of our workers and in the interests of industrialists and industry in this country?
This is not the first time I have heard Deputy L'Estrange on this subject. I could, of course, answer him back and talk about the Fine Gael Party's record in regard to industrialisation and their attitude to the whole effort to build industry in this country.
What about the Shannon scheme?
I am concerned with the problem today and for the future, not with the past.
So are we, and that is the reason this is so successful.
(Cavan): I understood the Minister to state that when these industries were in full production they would give employment to 48,000 people. The question asked the employment given by them. Could the Minister state how many are employed at the present time?
It is not possible for us to get this kind of statistic accurately, as to how many are employed on a particular date in a specific industry, at least not without an inordinate amount of research.
(Cavan): Am I correct in taking it that the figure of 48,000 given by the Minister is an estimate for the future which may or may not be achieved?
This is true, but the Deputy will appreciate that, since this is covering a period of ten years, in a number of cases the full potential would have been reached; in other cases we will be dealing with industries which only commenced last year where the potential would not have been reached. Therefore, it is a figure based on what was estimated at the time each industry was starting up.
(Cavan): I asked the question because I take it that included in this estimate is a concern known as Cavan Engineering Works, which was provided with £175,000 and which was estimated to employ some hundreds of people and which, in fact, at the moment is employing nobody.
Did not the Industrial Development Authority in their review make an estimated figure of the amount of employment given in each industry up to that date? I think that was published——
Yes.
——and I think the percentage was also published of the number actually employed compared with the anticipated employment at the time the grant was given.
That is correct.
Could we not have those figures?
I was not asked for them.
I shall oblige the Minister.
Does the House agree to dispose of the remaining 11 questions?
Yes.