asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of inquiries his Department have received from foreign industrial and business concerns in the period 1st January to 31st March, 1972, expressing an interest in setting up plants in Ireland; and the number of foreign concerns which have set up plants in this country over the same period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Development.
50.
During the three-month period in question, 30 serious inquiries about the establishment of new industrial projects were received by the Industrial Development Authority from foreign concerns. Five new foreign projects commenced production during the same period.
Is the Minister aware that a number of foreign industrial projects are ready to come but are awaiting a favourable outcome from the referendum?
That is correct.
I am aware of that and I am becoming more and more conscious of this daily.
What is the total employment promised—I repeat "promised" because we have had too many promises—in those five industries that have been established? Would the Minister tell me what is the immediate employment and what it will be in five years time?
There is no promise attached to the five industries which are referred to here. They are an actual fact and are at present operating.
That is what I asked: what employment are they giving now and what is the promise of the ultimate employment?
A fraction of what the employment will be after the referendum.
I think the Minister was prepared to answer me.
The Minister was prepared to answer but the difficulty is that the information was not sought in the question and I have not the details here in regard to employment but I can say it is sizeable.
That is all right. Is it sizeable in the sense of 25 persons for each industry or 50, or 500 for each industry which would give 2,500 jobs?
Roughly 50 per industry.
That means 250. That is a long way from 55,000.