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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 May 1974

Vol. 272 No. 13

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Industrialisation.

25.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of inquiries received from industrialists interested in establishing new industries in the mid-west region during the past 12 months; and, in particular, the number of such industrialists who have visited County Clare.

I have been informed by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company, Ltd., that during the year ended 31st December, 1973, they received 360 inquiries from industrialists interested in establishing new industries in the mid-west region and that 114 of these industrialists visited County Clare during the 12 months in question.

Has the Minister any information about the number who have put forward projects?

Out of the 360 inquiries and the 114 visits seven new projects were subsequently approved. Some of these are matters of public knowledge already, including the largest of them which is Syntex. As regards the others, the Deputy will be aware that it can cause embarrassment if an announcement is made prior to the participating firm wishing it. I do not want to say more than has already been revealed.

Could the Minister explain why such a small percentage of those who had shown interest, seven out of 114, materialised and why so many were lost along the line? Is there any indication that some of the 114 may show further interest in this area?

There is certainly a possibility that some of the 114 will come back but I think a yield of seven new projects with job creation of over 800 in that area in that period is a good record.

I accept that but would the Minister not agree that out of 360 inquiries and 114 approaches seven would be regarded as a bit low? I am certainly glad that seven are coming but seven out of an original inquiry list of 360 seems a very small number. Is there any particular reason why these people may not have shown interest in the area?

I do not think it is a small number. There are many parts of the world engaged in as vigorous industrial promotion as we are through the IDA and when firms are contemplating a move to a new area they can shop around over practically the whole world. They do so very widely and the original number would in fact relate to what was very much a preliminary inquiry. That wastage is not, I think, at all unusual in this business.

26.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of industrialists interested in establishing new industries who have visited west Clare in the past 12 months; and the proposals for establishing new industries in this area in the near future.

I understand from the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., that about 40 industrialists interested in establishing new industries have visited west Clare in the past 12 months and that negotiations are at an advanced stage for an industry with an employment potential of 160 people. Details will be announced as soon as possible.

Could the Minister give any indication as to how soon details will be announced?

The same consideration applies here as in the case of the previous question. We like to be guided by the wishes of the firm itself because premature announcements can either lose a firm or cause it embarrassment where it has interest in other areas. I could not give a firm date.

Could the Minister do anything to correct the imbalance that has shown itself over a long number of years in this area where, because of the policies pursued, we had vast emigration and would he take a particular interest in it so as to restore a proper balance.

We will look after it now.

You had a long time there and you did nothing about it.

(Interruptions.)

We had the highest emigration in Ireland out of that area.

Question No. 27.

(Interruptions.)

Does the Minister realise that the population of County Clare increased by over 4,000——

Next question, please.

(Interruptions.)

I look on 160 jobs as a beginning and while there are not firm approvals—referring specifically now to the west Clare area—there are some very serious inquiries with a job potential of considerably more than 160. The region is one of which we are well aware and I believe we shall have more good news to announce before we are much older.

27.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there are any plans to build advance factories in County Clare in the next 12 months.

I have been informed by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., that they have plans for the construction of eight advance factories in County Clare in the course of the next 12 months, one each in Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Killaloe and four in the Shannon Industrial Estate.

May I ask the Minister if the figures he has given represent a variation on the plans published by the IDA a couple of years ago in regard to the development of the various regions or are they the figures that were envisaged originally in the plan for this area?

I was not aware that the plan as published contained the sort of detail I have given. I understand it did not contain decisions in regard to some of the smaller towns and villages. I cannot give the Deputy more details but if he would like to put down the question again I shall compare the decision now with that made when the wider industrial plans were originally announced.

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