asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the plans he has for the provision of employment in the Ardara area of County Donegal.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Employment.
25.
Although Ardara is not mentioned specifically in the Industrial Development Authority's plan for 1978-82, it is nevertheless comprehended by the town grouping Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Glenties and Killybegs for which a job creation target of 1,000 has been fixed.
In recent years the authority has grant-aided three projects in the Ardara area which, between them, should provide employment for almost 50 people at full production. Moreover, industrial employment in Ardara has doubled since January 1977.
26.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the plans he has for the provision of employment in Newport, County Mayo.
Newport is in the town grouping Castlebar, Westport and Newport for which the Industrial Development Authority, in its Industrial Plan 1978-82, has set a job creation target of 1,000. To date, 554 jobs have been approved for this town grouping of which 25 have actually been created in Newport.
In its efforts to intensify industrial development in the town, the IDA last year acquired a 7.8 acre site which it is vigorously promoting for new industry.
What specific arrangements have been made apart from the ordinary arrangements by the IDA? What special consideration is being given in this area because of the fact that it suffered so much due to unemployment in the past number of months? The Minister is on record as stating that special consideration is being given to areas like this.
The number of jobs approved so far in the period of this plan is more than half of the target and a certain number of those were created in Newport where three firms were established in recent years.
Is the Minister aware that, while the target has been achieved in job creation, the loss is twice the target? This is a problem where the Minister is taking two steps back and one forward.
The question relates to Newport where there have not been any losses.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.