asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the progress that has been made since he indicated that help would be given by the IDA to have a factory located in the town of Balbriggan, County Dublin, in view of the continuing redundancies in the town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Industry.
13.
The IDA have had discussions with the Balbriggan Town Commissioners about the industrial situation in Balbriggan and have requested the commissioners to provide them with information about sites available for industry in the area. When this information is furnished to them the authority will promote any suitable sites and endeavour to attract prospective industrialists to locate projects there.
I am sure the Minister will accept that the statement he made is a rather general one. There is no immediate promise of employment for those unemployed or for people who are facing the prospect of being let go from their jobs. Could the Minister not make a more definite statement with regard to the commitment he made in January to have the IDA do something positive for Balbriggan?
In this matter the Deputy might help me. Certainly I am anxious to help him and Balbriggan. On 30th January there were discussions between the IDA and the town commissioners and the IDA said they would initiate action on the basis of data to be furnished. We have not got that data and it would be useful if the Deputy could help in the matter. If we get a prompt reply we will reply as quickly as possible. While I accept the substance of what the Deputy said with regard to employment, at the moment the most useful thing would be to get the information we requested.
Will the Minister not accept that when the town commissioners approached the Dublin County Council they got an assurance that if a factory was provided a site would be made available? Various areas have been indicated for suitable sites. Surely the Minister is not trying to say that the blame for the hold up in providing a factory can be laid at the door of the town commissioners, a reasonable democratically elected body——
This is leading to an argument.
I am not blaming anybody but if the Deputy is aware of the mechanism by which industry is attracted he will know that a firm and certain site is a great inducement. If people have a project in mind and if they are told that when they have the project finalised they will be given a site, they are not as interested as they would be if the site were available initially. We want that hard information because it will help the area and it will help us.
Is the Minister saying that if a definite site is made available the IDA will have a factory for Balbriggan?
The Deputy knows I cannot guarantee that with certainty. However, I can guarantee that the IDA will do their utmost to provide a factory but it would be wrong for me to say they could put it in that location.