asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when it is hoped to have industries for the advance factories at Sligo, Manorhamilton, Ballymote and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo-Leitrim Industries.
17.
I have been informed by the Industrial Development Authority that the position in regard to these areas is as follows:
(a) Four of the five units in the recently opened Sligo cluster have already been occupied and the 5th unit of 9,400 sq. ft. is being promoted for industry but no firm proposal has yet emerged.
(b) Construction of the 7,400 sq. ft. advance factory in Manorhamilton is expected to start later this month. The factory will be promoted for industry by the IDA and it is hoped to have a project ready to set up there when construction is completed.
(c) The IDA are in the process of purchasing a 6½ acre site in Ballymote on which they propose to construct a 10,700 sq. ft. advance factory. The IDA hope that construction can start next October and that they will have a suitable industry available for location there when the factory is ready.
(d) The IDA have been promoting the 24,000 sq. ft. advance factory in Carrick-on-Shannon and have brought a number of industrialists there on IDA itineraries. A definite project has not yet been found for the factory.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the four factories in the cluster of factories in Sligo mentioned earlier were existing industries in the town and just moved to a new premises, and that the IDA have failed to find any industries for the vacant factory or for the advance factories in Manorhamilton, Ballymote and Carrick-on-Shannon? Can he assure me and the people of Sligo who are looking for very badly needed jobs that every effort will be made by him prior to the completion of these factories to have something started in them when they are completed rather than having them lying there?
They are only starting work on the advance factory in Manorhamilton. They are only purchasing the site in Ballymote. It is a little premature to expect them to have them filled with industries yet. In the case of the Sligo cluster of industries they are relocations, but that is as was intended. In the case of Carrick-on-Shannon and the fifth of the five factories in the cluster at Sligo the IDA are still actively seeking to have them filled.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the factories at Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon are now ready for use?
Yes.
How long does he expect them to lie there idle?
That depends entirely on whether an industrialist can be found to fill them. The IDA are very active in this matter.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that enough is being done to ensure that industries will be established in those factories?
I am satisfied the IDA are making the maximum possible effort to find industries to fill these two advance factories.
That is not good enough.
That may be the Deputy's opinion.
To say that they are making efforts seems to be a stock phrase, but their efforts are not successful. What steps does the Parliamentary Secretary now propose to take since their efforts have not met with success?
Many of the efforts by the IDA have been markedly successful.