asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps he intends to take to remove the threat of unemployment from the works of a company (name supplied) in Balbriggan, County Dublin, in view of the projected lay-off of 60 men.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Balbriggan Unemployment Threat.
72.
I am informed that the redundancies now arising result from a fall-off in demand for the company's products and that the company found it necessary to take this step to remain viable and to continue in economic production.
The Deputy will appreciate that the only effective remedy is a revival in demand for the company's products. The action of the Government in making additional money available in 1974 to boost house building and their intention to do likewise this year is of course of assistance to this industry.
The Minister talks about putting extra money into housing. Has the Minister seen the statement of the managing director of this company that the lay-offs are due to a crisis in the building industry and would he not agree with the managing director's plea to the Government to increase SDA loans and grants to get demand for this product going again?
I am not familiar with the statement referred to by the Deputy so I cannot offer any judgment on it. That there is a crisis in the building industry I repudiate. I should point out that some of the production of this company goes overseas and we cannot influence demand overseas. From the domestic point of view, industrial demand is pretty well a third and we have had a very large rise in grants to the industrial area. In terms of local authority housing, the rate is high and rising. In terms of money made available by the State, this has increased in the last two budgets substantially, plus measures of confidence and measures of action by the building societies to make money available and also measures to obtain greater efficiency in building from the increased funds the Government have made available, and these are all contributory. I deny there is a crisis. The commitment of the Government to the building sector was evidenced by the very large amount of money, £100 million, for building in general in the budget.
Is the Minister seriously denying the existence of a crisis in the building industry when every man, woman and child knows there is a crisis?
We cannot have an argument at Question Time.
The Minister referred to the purchasing of the products of this company outside the building sphere. Is the Minister aware that the Department of Posts and Telegraphs have cut back considerably on their purchase of the products of this company?
I am not so aware.
That is a separate question.
Because of the highly skilled work force available in Balbriggan as a result of this unemployment will the Minister now instruct the IDA to encourage the setting up of a new factory there?
I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the IDA.