asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has any plans or proposals for attracting further industries to the Laois-Offaly area; and if he has any plans or proposals for the setting-up of an industrial estate in Laois-Offaly.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Laois-Offaly Industrialisation.
35.
The Industrial Development Authority is at present examining a number of proposals involving the establishment of industries in Laois-Offaly but since all approaches made to the authority must be treated as confidential I am not in a position at this stage to give more detail.
As has been stated in reply to previous questions, the development of further Government sponsored industrial estates must await decisions based on the studies leading to regional programmes. These studies are still in progress.
Will the Minister not agree that over a year ago he stated that he hoped to have a definite statement as to whether Laois-Offaly would be declared a designated area? Would the Minister not agree that at present we have serious unemployment in Tullamore, Clara, Birr, Portlaoise, Mountmellick and, indeed, throughout Laois-Offaly? Further, will the Minister not agree that every year more than 3,000 people are leaving Laois and 3,000 are leaving Offaly?
We can give them one of the five Japanese factories.
Almost all the statements made by the Deputy are incorrect. The Deputy started by saying that I made a certain statement over a year ago. If the Deputy checks on the matter he will find that is not so and, consequently, his following statements are in a similar category.
The Minister made that statement when he was replying to the debate on his Department this year.
The Deputy said I made the statement more than a year ago. I have been Minister for the past six months. I would suggest to the Deputy that he should try to be correct in his facts.
I am calling Question No. 36. Would Deputy Enright please allow questions to continue?