asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will declare Drogheda a designated area temporarly for the purpose of Industrial Development Authority grants in order to alleviate unemployment by the establishment of further factories.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Drogheda Factory Development.
35.
The designation of a particular area inevitably leads to considerable pressure for extension of the concession to other areas, thus leading to the danger of erosion of the grant differential applied to areas already designated; therefore, designation is an instrument which must be very sparingly used. The present grant levels should provide adequate incentive to attract industry to Drogheda and I am not satisfied that the designation of Drogheda even for a temporary period, would be appropriate.
Is the Minister aware that in the construction of the new cement factory there were 2,000 temporary jobs, that that construction has now finished and that there are only a few hundred people employed on production in that factory? This has created a very high unemployment figure. Would the Minister not agree that my request, asking for a temporary designation, would take care of people's fears in this regard? I am not asking for permanent designation, only temporary designation, because of the shock which occurred and the high unemployment figure as a result.
Any designations I have used are in relation to designations specifically for a temporary period where it is felt that there is great anxiety to endeavour to attract an alternative industry where an industry is seriously affected and a factory is being closed. The disclosures recently in connection with Drogheda and the difficulty about the creation of an estate for industrial development seem to have been the reason why there was not industrial development recently. This has now been got over and I am satisfied, arising from the volume of industrial development that has taken place in Drogheda through the years, that there is not any necessity to designate Drogheda and to earmark additional grants in order to generate further industrial expansion in that town.
Does the Minister not agree that while we have now got an industrial estate and objections have been overcome that the effect of this will not be felt for a period of a year or 18 months? Would he not further agree that in the case of Dundalk, where there was great unemployment recently because of the closing of some factories, that the designation of Dundalk, another developing town, had a very good effect in that it produced industries very quickly? Would the Minister not agree that there is a case for such action in the case of Drogheda, say for a year?
The Deputy would appreciate the position if he was in my place and listening to the various deputations that call to me in the event of closures arising from the question of designation. The immediate come-back is that designation may succeed in attracting alternative industry but what will happen in the interim, between now and the 18 months when the outcome of the designation and the industry attracted will have proved of benefit? I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that about 18 months must elapse in a case like this before employment can be generated into this area. The whole problem as far as Drogheda is concerned is the availability of sites.
Would the Minister agree——
No, Deputy. I am calling Question No. 36. I cannot allow any further supplementaries.
(Interruptions.)
Let us make some progress on questions. I am calling Question No. 36.