asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he recognises the particular problems of unemployment which have confronted Dublin city and in particular the Dublin port area as a result of internal structural change within the Irish labour market and the location of industry throughout the country; if he will ensure that the IDA will be encouraged to create new jobs in the Dublin urban area; and if he will undertake to establish industrial estates within the built up areas of the city with particular emphasis on the inner city both north and south of the river Liffey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Job Creation.
34.
I am aware of the unemployment difficulties which have confronted Dublin city, and of the need for further industrial development in the port and inner city areas in particular.
The Industrial Development Authority is giving immediate attention to the creation of new manufacturing employment in Dublin and has taken a number of initiatives to this end. These include the provision of advance factories, the promotion of the area for large-scale industry and the extension of the small industries programme to Dublin for selected sectors. I am informed by the IDA that in the six months January-June, 1977, projects involving over 2,500 jobs were approved grant assistance in Dublin, and on my return from the United States on Sunday week I was able to announce a further four projects for Dublin which will create 750 jobs at full production.
The IDA is giving special attention to the problems of the inner city area. The small industries programme is being actively promoted in the inner city, and negotiations are almost completed with Dublin Corporation for the acquisition of a site at Newmarket in the Liberties on which a cluster of factories for small industrial projects will be constructed. A consultant architect has been appointed and planning of this project has commenced. Two further clusters will be constructed at locations yet to be decided. There are difficulties in promoting the inner city area for medium and large scale enterprises as there are few suitable large sites immediately available.
The IDA is also examining urgently the question of industrial development in the port area. I understand that an outline plan for the development of the port has been completed by the Dublin Port and Docks Board and is currently being examined by the IDA. The IDA is working with the board and with Dublin Corporation towards the provision of a suitable environment in the port for industrial development.
In addition, the IDA is a member of the Dublin special and permanent development team set up by Dublin City Council to explore ways and means of promoting industrial development in centre city locations.
I should like to thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply but, with all due respect, we were aware of many of the measures announced. Frankly, while some of them were taken on by the previous Administration and are now under the able care of the Minister, I do not believe, as a former member, that they will be sufficient. Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that he recognises in a real way how serious the problem in Dublin is? Will he specifically encourage the IDA to attract large scale industries to selected sites within the inner city area? Under the terms of the Minister's reply he is excluding substantially large industries from the inner city areas where the need is greatest. The level of unemployment in the inner city area on the north side is up to 28 per cent and none of the measures announced by the Minister will alleviate that problem in the short term. With due respect, the Minister has not addressed himself to the problem outlined in the question.
I must take cognisance of the growing habit of Members of making long statements without putting a question. If that is permitted to go on Question Time will become a mockery. That is with due regard to efforts by Deputies to obtain information. We cannot have long statements. Many Deputies are awaiting information from the questions they have tabled.
What I said about large factories in the inner city area is that frequently there are not suitable sites available for large projects and, therefore, the kind of projects that can be promoted on the outskirts of the city frequently cannot, for obvious physical reasons, be put into the centre of the city. This does not apply to Dublin alone; it applies to other cities. It is more feasible to put in small industries in the inner city areas. That is being done and the IDA are promoting Dublin now on the same basis as any other part of the country because they realise, as I do, that the unemployment rate in Dublin is very severe and the comparatively favourable situation which existed in Dublin up to some years ago no longer exists.
Will the Minister consider instructing the IDA to promote Dublin on a more preferable basis than any other part of the country because the need is far greater than elsewhere?
No.
Would the Minister consider giving the Dublin Port area a special concession for the development of industry because of the great potential that exists for such industry there? Would he consider giving incentives to such industries with an employment potential of more than 300 jobs?
The IDA are examining urgently the question of industrial development in the port and co-operating with the Dublin Port and Docks Board on an outline plan for the development of the port. They are also co-operating with the corporation towards the provision of a suitable environment in the port for industrial development.