asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will make a statement on the current policy adopted by the Government with regard to economic expansion in the disadvantaged areas of the west which are outside the Gaeltacht.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas.
5.
I take it that the term "west" as used in the question is synonymous with the west region as defined by the Industrial Development Authority. This region, as a whole, has experienced considerable industrial development and expansion in employment in recent years and the policies which enabled such development to take place are being maintained.
However, it is recognised that all parts of the region have not benefited equally from recent and current industrial development and the Industrial Development Authority are giving particular attention to the needs of those areas within the region which might be regarded as disadvantaged. These would include, in particular, the eastern part of Mayo, south-east Galway and some coastal areas.
The authority are actively seeking to obtain new industrial development in these areas through a comprehensive policy involving site acquisition, provision of advance factories and a generous package of incentives.
Does the Minister accept that the special circumstances which apply to Gaeltacht areas also apply to large areas on the periphery of the Gaeltacht, special circumstances warranting special treatment in the form of increased grants within the Gaeltacht?
In 1977 in the western areas outside Gaeltacht areas 43 projects involving 1,268 jobs, for example, were approved in that region.
Is the Minister aware that for many years it has been accepted that extra grants are made available for projects within the Gaeltacht?
Yes.
If he accepts that the same economic and the social conditions apply to large areas in the periphery of the Gaeltacht, does he not agree that extra assistance ought to be made available there also if we are engaged in economic development in that area?
We are engaged in economic development in the area and, as I said in my original answer, this region as a whole has experienced considerable industrial development and expansion in employment in recent years. The policies which enable such development to take place are being maintained.
Would the Minister accept that the present IDA programme as outlined recently in a document would indicate a preponderance of activity on the eastern side of the country as against the west, and that the reason for that is that problems have arisen in the east because of migration from the west due to neglect in the past?
The facts do not bear that out. For example, the west region achieved 98 per cent of its net total job creation target in the period 1973-1976, and that was the second best regional performance. The net increase in manufacturing employment in the region was 3,300. The figures for 1977 are not available as yet. However, in other areas in the east and north-east there were net job losses. Therefore the IDA recognised the overall situation and they geared their programme accordingly.
Could I ask the Minister if he is aware——
We cannot have an argument.
——that the grouping as outlined in the last IDA programme is not at all satisfactory in that most of the proposed development is in towns like Westport and Castlebar and they have been literally lumped in with places like Swinford, Charlestown and areas in east Mayo which are bereft of any development for years past? The grouping is unsatisfactory and the Minister will hear more about it in the near future.