asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the IDA expect to have suitable industries for their factories at Edenderry, Birr and Tullamore, County Offaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Industrialisation.
25.
I have been informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they are at present in negotiation with industrialists for the location of projects in both the Birr and Tullamore advance factories but that there is no firm indication at present as to when these projects might proceed.
The authority are making every effort to secure a suitable project for the factory at Edenderry which became vacant recently when the company which occupied it ceased production. A firm alternative project has not yet emerged.
The Minister must be aware that there is a certain amount of criticism because the factories have been built for two years or more and there had been great hopes. Now, all of a sudden, everything goes by the board.
The Deputy knows that in one instance, in the case of Edenderry, there was a project secured but it was unable to succeed. In the case of the other two, as I have said there are negotiations under way for industries. People should realise that in the circumstances of very serious world depression, while we have had only a certain number of cancellations we have had a number of deferments, people saying: "We are not cancelling the project but we will not take a definitive decision to proceed in present circumstances." I am happy to confirm our commitment to find industries for these three factories. There is recognition of the extra claim for these. It should not be taken as so alarming or depressing that we cannot find industries as quickly as we would wish.
In the Tullamore advance factory, major readaptation took place at the behest of an American company and I believe the company have decided not to come here at all. This has cost the taxpayer a vast amount of money.
Will the Deputy ask a question?
Is the Minister aware that I think enough scrutiny has not been put into this and as a result, we have had a number of deferments——
The Deputy is embarking on a statement.
I do not think the Deputy wishes, and I hope he does not, to criticise the record of the IDA. I have said to them that if they were to be certain about everything they would have had far more failures. I am pleased with their record, which is very good. In regard to this undertaking, there were expensive modifications at the behest of a firm which failed to go on with the project. I regret that. If we were to give guidelines to the IDA to prevent such things happening, we would not have half the number of factories in operation. I gave my commitment to the Tullamore project, it did not work out but it is a risk we have had to take.
Does the Minister know of any two factories anywhere else in Ireland which have been so long idle?
I have not had notice of that question, but off the top of my head I cannot say I do. I take the Deputy's point.