asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the present level of unemployment and short-time employment in the Cork area, he will state the revised plans his Department have formulated for the provision and creation of additional new jobs in the area to compensate for jobs already lost or likely to be lost in the coming months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Situation.
6.
Job commitments entered into by the Industrial Development Authority for the Cork area are higher than anticipated for this stage of the regional industrial plans and will, overall, compensate for present and anticipated job losses. I understand that four major new industries with employment potential of about 500 in the Cork city area are already recruiting management staff and will start production within the next six months. Details of three others with job potential of about 600 in the Cork city area have been announced and are expected to start construction at an early date. I am also informed that negotiations on five other industries to employ a total of 1,500 at full production are being pushed ahead vigorously.
In the country area where jobs are at risk, every effort is being made to arrange takeovers or to secure replacement industry.
7.
andMr. Farrell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the plans he has to provide employment in Dundalk, in view of the enormous increase in the number of unemployed persons there over the past year.
The Industrial Development Authority have approved a grant to S & S Dundalk Engineering for a major expansion programme, now underway, to provide 230 new jobs for men. Seventy of these jobs have already been created and the balance will be coming on stream over the next two and a half years.
The authority have this year purchased an additional 55 acres of land for industrial development in Dundalk and is committed to encouraging the establishment of new industry at the earliest possible date on this land.
Is the Minister aware that the number of unemployed in Dundalk has doubled since this time last year, that in reply to a question in this House I was informed that the number of unemployed was 1,757 and that this number has since increased because of further redundancies? Can he state what immediate proposals he has to deal with this very serious situation?
The most recent figures for unemployment in Dundalk I have in the answer—I think later figures do exist—relate to the 18th October. From the 19th October, 1973, to the 18th October 1974, the number increased from 988 to 1,757. It is worth pointing out that if one looks at male unemployment the figure on 19th October, 1973 was 777 which increased over the year to 1,179. That is a serious increase but I do not think, factually on the figures before me, that it can be described as a doubling. The Industrial Development Authority are well aware of this difficulty in Dundalk which is of rather recent origin and I am informed by them that they are looking on it as a matter of urgency and doing everything in their power to remedy the situation.
Quite obviously the Minister's reply does not hold out much hope for the unemployed in Dundalk. Is he aware that many of those who lost their employment recently were employed in the footwear and textile industries and could he state what steps he has taken to safeguard employment in those industries?
That comes up under other questions.
It comes up on this one, Sir.
Is the Minister aware that an industry which was signed and sealed by the IDA for Dundalk was later transferred to Wexford because of political interference and would he agree that this move showed little consideration for the rapidly growing number of unemployed people in Dundalk?
The Minister is not so aware and very much resents the insinuation that there was any political interference in the location of industry by the IDA.
Is the Minister aware that not only had the industrialist concerned selected Dundalk for his industry with IDA approval but had actually inspected a house outside Dundalk in which to live?
The Deputy is using his Parliamentary privilege in an irresponsible way.
The industrialist concerned is Ratio Eloxan and the name of the proprietor is Mr. Hasselbach.
The Chair would prefer if the Deputy did not refer to persons outside the House.
This happened four or five months ago. Everything was arranged and overnight there was——
The Deputy is embarking on a statement.
I can prove it, Sir.
Would the Minister agree that this industry was, in fact, designated for Dundalk, that everything was completed——
The Deputy is raising a separate matter. This question deals with unemployment. It does not deal with the matter to which the Deputies are now adverting.
Deputies
Of course, it does.
It refers to the unemployment situation in Dundalk and——
The Deputy should put down a specific question on the industry to which he is referring.
Arising out of what the Minister said earlier in regard to the amount of male and female unemployment, are we to take it from what he said that he does not regard female unemployment as rating concern by him?
No, certainly not and no reasonable and non-tendentious person would draw that inference.
What point was the Minister making if he was not making that point?
Question No. 8.
There is a long tradition in this country, embodied in the activities of the IDA over a long period, that where it is a question of the employment of persons who are supporting a whole family it is preferable to the employment of single people. In the majority of cases male employment is of greater spin-off value to the whole economy than female employment is.
Of course.
Therefore, the effect on the surrounding economy of male unemployment is greater usually because the man is supporting a family than in the case of female unemployment. There is a distinction.
Of course, there is.
I am just as concerned with one sector as with the other but the economic effects were a little different, as the Deputy well knows.
Question No. 8, please.
Is it not true that the Minister quoted the figures for male unemployment and on the basis of those said that it was not correct to say that unemployment had doubled?
To do so did he not have to ignore female unemployment and is that not the whole point of my question?
That is simply not correct. I gave the figures for total and for male also and in neither case was there a doubling.
Will the Minister accept that there is a very serious unemployment situation in Dundalk?
The Chair has given a lot of latitude on Question No. 7. No. 8 please.