asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his plans for the provision of additional industrial jobs in Cork city.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Job Creation.
11.
I am informed by the IDA that in recent years they have secured a number of new large overseas industries for the Greater Cork area and have also assisted in the expansion of a number of existing industries.
These projects, which include Apple Computers in Hollyhill, Bourns, Cado Systems, Measurex and Witte Van Moort in Mahon, Digital, Showerlux, Sifco Turbine Components, Cantrell and Cochrane and Tungsram in Little Island, Liebert Corporation and Perkin Elmer Ireland Ltd. in Wilton, Lois and Tiklas in Cork city, have the potential to employ almost 5,000 persons at full production. Many of the jobs in these firms have yet to come on stream.
The IDA also have more than 1,100 acres of land and a total of 175,000 square feet of factory space available in the area for industrial development.
The IDA will continue to promote Cork city and environs for suitable industrial projects.
Ghost factories are of no consolation to the unemployed of Cork. There is no point in having factory sites and factory units if employment is not being created. I asked the Minister to let us have details of his plans for the provision of additional jobs in Cork city but instead of answering the question he gave us details of the records over a number of years. However, the records do not correspond with the evidence in terms of the unemployment situation in Cork. The figures in this respect have increased by 800 in the past four months.
I would like to remind the Deputy that many firms do not reach full production immediately on being set up nor in the first or second years or even perhaps in the third year. Anybody who is familiar with industrial development will know this. Apparently the Deputy is ignoring the fact that this economy is coming through one of the worst economic recessions ever experienced. It is not very long ago since the people on the benches opposite were on this side of the House but there were no magic solutions produced at that time to solve the unemployment problem. My first priority is to restore confidence in this economy so far as investment is concerned. That approach was initiated by the Taoiseach during his visit to New York and it was followed up by me last week in Germany. I intend to pursue the matter again in the US. First we must give confidence to potential investors, but we must realise that there is fierce competition for investment around the world. It is most unrealistic for someone who has been in this House for only a short period to suggest that nothing is being done. Much has been done already to undo the damage that had been done.
(Interruptions.)
An announcement made in the last couple of hours proves conclusively that confidence is being restored so far as the Irish economy is concerned. Perhaps Deputy Allen would be patient and wait for less than a week when we will be able to tell him of a new project for Cork city.
Question No. 12.
I wish to ask a supplementary.
I am sorry, but I have called the next question.
I have only asked one supplementary on my four questions whereas the Minister has made a long statement.
The Deputy asked for details of my plans and I replied. What is the information he wants now?
This is not "The Albert Reynolds" hour.
Yesterday I was treated in the same way.
I will allow Deputy Allen to put a final supplementary but he must do so quickly.
The Minister has referred to the question of confidence in our economy but what are his plans in terms of restoring the confidence of the people of Cork city who consider themselves to have been abandoned by this Government? There is lack of financial investment into infrastructure.
I have indicated to the Deputy that he may expect an announcement for Cork within a matter of a week or so. I would remind him also that in the very short time that we have been in office we have invested up to £10 million in Whitegate, that there is full commitment to Cork city and its environs, but I am surprised that the Deputy is not aware of all this investment.
12.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the proposals with his Department to create jobs in the Enniscorthy area of County Wexford.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they are at an advanced stage of negotiation with an overseas company who are interested in locating in Enniscorthy. In addition, six small industry projects for the area, with a potential to create 39 jobs, were approved for grant assistance by the IDA during 1981.
The IDA also own two sites for industrial development, totalling 23 acres of land, in Enniscorthy. It is proposed that the local Development Association will construct a 7,000 square feet advance factory on one of these sites.
Is the Minister aware that, regarding the project he refers to in connection with overseas investment and which is located at Edermine in Enniscorthy, I was informed at top level in the IDA that the grant was sanctioned by the previous Government in November last and that it was expected to be signed, sealed and delivered in January? When that did not happen I was given an assurance that the company concerned, Searle, would go ahead in April. Now, in the middle of May, we are still getting these bland assurances that something is coming. Is the Minister aware of that situation? Will the Minister explain why the proposed 470 jobs have not been announced publicly?
I am aware of the situation that the Deputy has referred to. The grant offer was approved and it is with the company. We are awaiting a response from the company as to when they will decide to proceed. It is just another example of the reflection of lack of confidence in the Irish economy for investment that has been here for some time and is in America in particular.
Will the Minister give an indication as to when this will take place? Is the Minister aware that the Enniscorthy Urban Council, bearing in mind that there are 1,300 unemployed in the town, have requested him to receive a deputation? Is the Minister aware that his predecessor agreed to receive such a deputation and will the Minister give a commitment on the time span for the project? When will he meet the Enniscorthy deputation?
As soon as we get definite news from the company about advancing the project I will be only too delighted to announce the details. In relation to the request to me to receive a deputation, that matter will be dealt with in the normal way. Since I took office I have met as many deputations as possible bearing in mind the time constraints on me. We will certainly accommodate the Deputy in that respect.
13.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the plans he has for further industrial expansion in (i) Clonmel, (ii) Tipperary town, (iii) Cashel, (iv) Carrick-on-Suir, (vi) Cahir, (vi) Fethard and (vii) any other venue in South Tipperary.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that 1,135 first time grant-aided jobs have been created in the south Tipperary area during the period 1978-1981.
In addition, the IDA approved 22 projects for south Tipperary in 1981 which are expected to provide a total of 865 jobs at full production. Many of these jobs, and jobs in projects secured in earlier years have yet to come on stream.
The IDA will continue to vigorously promote the area for industrial development and in particular will intensify their efforts to secure new industries for their existing vacant advance factories at Cahir, Cashel, Clonmel and Fethard.
The IDA are also seeking a suitable industrial site in Tipperary town.
As usual the Minister did not reply to the question I put down. I asked the Minister to indicate the industrial plans for six named towns in south Tipperary and any other venues in that area but the Minister has not given me that information. What is the position with regard to Clonmel? What plans has he for further industrial expansion in that town?
I am sure the Deputy is aware that any negotiations for industrial projects are confidential. In fact, projects have been lost because of a breach of confidence by one side or the other or by advance notification. These negotiations are carried out in confidence. Companies do not wish to have their business discussed in public or anywhere else.
I will be only too glad when pursuing the attraction of industries to Cashel, Carrick-on-Suir and Cahir to announce them at the appropriate time. It is a pleasure to be able to announce such projects but we must first get people interested, get the project together and approved. That is the sort of time scale we must go through when attracting a new industry to any area.
I am aware of the concern expressed by the Minister and I am not asking him or the IDA to break confidence with any company. I want the Minister to tell the House the specific plans he has for industrial expansion in the towns mentioned in my Question. The Minister has not given me a satisfactory reply.
The Deputy has said he appreciates the position and then asks for specific information about projects we are following up in various towns. That is a contradiction. The Deputy appreciates the confidentiality of any negotiations that take place in any area. I am not at liberty to break that confidence, nor is the IDA, until everything is signed, sealed and delivered. The Deputy can be assured that every effort is being made to follow up projects in the towns mentioned. The maximum amount of manufacturing industry that can be attracted to those towns will be followed up in our general drive for more manufacturing industry throughout the country.
The only information I can get from the Minister is that he does not have any plans for industrial expansion in south Tipperary.
The overall operation has started already. We must have investment today to get jobs tomorrow and that is where we must start. We must have confidence before we get the confidence for investment and then we get people switched on to come here.
14.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy whether, in view of the fact that the number of persons registered as unemployed at the Thurles Employment Exchange, County Tipperary, has increased by over 81 per cent in the past three years, he has any specific plans for industrial development in the area.
15.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the plans he has for industrial development in the Roscrea area of County Tipperary.
16.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the plans he has for industrial development in the Templemore area of County Tipperary.
17.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy whether he has any plans for industrial development in the Borrisokane area of County Tipperary; and, if so, what those plans are.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 together.
On a point of order, I wish to protest at the proposal of the Minister to take four Parliamentary Questions together. I put them down as four separate questions for a specific purpose. The Industrial Development Authority have indicated different concerns as far as the four areas are concerned——
The Deputy cannot make a speech. The Chair does not have any control over the content of ministerial replies. It has been establised practice in this House — on both sides I might add — that a number of questions may be taken together where the questions are relevant.
I accept that but I understood that the Minister asked the permission of the Chair to take them together. I ask the Chair to take my submission into account or otherwise it makes a total farce of the system of asking Parliamentary Questions because the Minister has clearly indicated in a number of replies he has given already that he intends evading the questions put to him. We must have some rights in the House.
The Deputy raised this on a point of order and I should like to tell him that a Minister saying "With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle" is a mere formality. I questioned that at the beginning and I found I did not have to give my permission. It is a mere formality and any Minister can group together a number of questions where they relate to one subject. The Chair does not have any control over it.
The Chair has stated that it was his intention to ask the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to consider various reforms and perhaps he might have this matter considered by the Committee. With respect, it makes a total farce of Question Time if Ministers can roll up any number of questions together and give a general answer to questions that are very specific. I represent the people of North Tipperary and I am being denied an opportunity of getting vital information for them. I have no control and, apparently, the Chair under the rules of the House does not have any control over the matter, nor can he permit me to get information which I believe I am entitled to get.
The Deputy can have this matter brought before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges by a member of his party who will be on the Committee.
On a point of order, there is a precedent for the Chair refusing to allow a Minister deal with a number of Parliamentary Questions together in one reply. While I accept what the Chair has said with regard to precedent and that it is normal for permission to be given it is a matter which is entirely within the discretion of the Chair. There is also a precedent for refusing permission to a Minister to reply in that manner.
I investigated this matter and I was informed that the power did not lie with the Chair in a matter of this sort. I will be glad to examine the matter and investigate the point mentioned by the Deputy. There was an argument on one occasion when 16 or 17 questions were grouped together.
The House was adjourned on this point when the Minister for Education was involved. The ruling of the Chair was reversed and the Minister had to break up the questions.
I will investigate that and try to have the matter clarified once and for all.
The Chair is investigating the matter and on a previous occasion the Chair indicated that when he had a matter under investigation he would retain the status quo. I understand the status quo to be that the Minister asked the permission of the Chair to take these together. In the interest of Members I ask the Chair to retain the power that he apparently has, and which the Minister believes the Chair has, given that he has asked for permission, and I ask that the Minister on this occasion answer the questions separately.
When the Deputy's party were on the other side of the House I questioned this also and I was informed that it was not a matter for the Ceann Comhairle.
(Limerick East): Is it in order to raise points of order during Question Time?
They can be raised.
I am surprised at the attitude of Deputy Molony. It has been a long-established practice here, as all Members know, for questions to be lumped together. There was a record set of 50 or 100 being lumped together. I do not think I am introducing any new procedures.
On a point of order and further to the last remark by the Minister, while I accept that it is normally accepted by the Chair that questions could be taken together, the very phraseology used —"With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose ..."— clearly indicates that your permission is necessary for the Minister to proceed in that manner.
I am glad to hear that information. I investigated it before and was told my permission was not necessary.
It is sought.
I know it is sought but I am told it is a mere formality. I questioned it at the beginning.
On a point of order, the question is quite different. If you refuse the necessity to give your permission to this, the rights of Members of this House are being taken away.
This has happened over decades. You have a valid point and I will investigate it in detail to see what can be done. I will not deviate from established practice until I examine the matter and make a decision for future reference. You may express your displeasure at these questions being taken together.
Established practice is that the Minister requests the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to deal with several questions together.
I had cause to question this before the Deputy did so and we shall take Questions Nos. 14 to 17, inclusive, together on this occasion.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 17, inclusive, together.
In their Industrial Plan 1978-1982, the Industrial Development Authority have divided North Tipperary into two town groupings.
Insofar as the Templemore-Thurles town grouping is concerned, the authority, in conjunction with the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited, set a job creation target of 500 new jobs. By the end of 1981 these agencies had approved grant assistance for industrial projects which plan to provide 450 jobs at full production, of which 270 had been created by the end of 1981.
Both the IDA and SFADCo are promoting this area vigorously for industrial development, employing the full range of financial incentives. In addition, the IDA have available two advance factories of 18,750 sq. ft. in Thurles, with a third of the same size due for completion shortly, together with 64 acres of land available for suitable industrial projects. SFADCo have recently completed 2×2,500 sq. ft. small factory units which are being promoted as part of the company's small indigenous industry drive.
In conjunction with SFADCo, the IDA have set a target of 700 new industrial jobs for the town grouping which includes Borrisokane and Roscrea in their industrial plan. By the end of 1981, grant aid had been approved for industrial projects which plan to create 1,980 jobs at full production of which 500 had actually been created. In addition to the normal attractive range of incentives available from IDA and SFADCo, a 24,000 sq. ft. advance factory which is under construction at Roscrea is due for completion in September next and SFADCo hope to commence the building of two small factories in the town later this year. Thirty-seven acres of land are also available for industrial development in the Roscrea area.
I would ask the Chair to be as lenient as possible in the matter of supplementary questions.
Please be assured that the Chair will facilitate the Deputy.
In view of the fact that the unemployment rate in the Thurles employment exchange area has increased by 81 per cent over the past three years, would the Minister agree that the targets and plans of the IDA are totally inadequate? Since during this period the IDA claim to have approved 450 jobs in the area,could the Minister explain how unemployment could have increased by 81 per cent, an increase one-third greater than the national average and four times the average rate in the remainder of the constituency?
I am sure the Deputy will be glad to hear that negotiations are at an early stage for the attraction of an industry to the advance factory at Thurles. This is an area of high unemployment and I am as deeply concerned about it as the Deputy. There is no point in being hypocritical about this. The Deputy was a Member of the other House for a short time and I would ask whether he made the same case when his party were in power.
Of course, I did.
With what result? I am doing everything I can to speed up industrial development in every area.
I am very well aware of the industry which the IDA are trying to establish in Thurles.
The Deputy may only ask questions.
The Minister asked whether I was aware and I am replying that I am so aware.
You are not allowed to reply.
Is the Minister aware that the number of jobs planned for that factory would be only a drop in the ocean in relation to the unemployment figures in Thurles? In view of the massive increase in unemployment in the Thurles area over the past three years, would the Minister not accept that the IDA's plans for the area are inadequate?
Plans for the Thurles area and for many other areas are being reviewed this year because the IDA plan expires this year and special consideration will be given to areas of highest unemployment in an attempt to give special help in alleviating the problem.
Would the Minister accept that there is considerable resentment in areas like Thurles with high unemployment rates when some constituencies, specifically Dublin Central, are treated with special consideration? Would the Minister accept that in view of the very high unemployment rate in Thurles he should consider designating it an area which merits 60 per cent IDA grants?
I am very well aware of the impact of high unemployment in any area, whether in Thurles or inner Dublin. I do not think there is a begrudging attitude when efforts are being made to improve the position in one area.
There is such an attitude when there is discrimination.
The highest level of industrial promotion will be undertaken by me as Minister and the same will apply to the IDA, who have intensified their marketing efforts this year.
Why should special treatment be given to one constituency to keep the Minister in his seat?
Is the Deputy stating that Dublin's inner city has not specific problems?
Of course it has.
Everybody knows there are grave problems there.
It is being given special treatment in order to keep the Minister in office and that is the only reason. It is discrimination.
When the Deputy's party were on this side of the House the same row was not kicked up about Thurles. The IDA, in co-operation with me, are marketing Ireland in the most intensive manner possible. The immediate result is already apparent in the winning of a project against international competition.
There is clear discrimination in order to keep the Minister in his job on that side of the House.
18.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware of the worsening unemployment situation in Limerick city and county; and if his Department have any plans to locate a large industrial project in the area to provide employment for workers made redundant on the completion of the Aughinish Alumina plant.
The Aughinish Alumina project is due to commence production in mid-1983 when employment will build up to 800 almost immediately.
In their Industrial Plan 1978-1982 the Industrial Development Authority, in conjunction with the Shannon Free Airport Development Company, set a total job creation target of 4,100 for Limerick city and county. Since 1978 these agencies have approved grant assistance for industrial projects in Limerick city and county which plan to provide 9,200 jobs in full production of which over 4,000 had been created by the end of 1981.
The Industrial Development Authority are continuing vigorously to promote the Limerick area for large-scale industrial investment employing their full range of incentives, which include 160 acres of land available for industrial development. In addition, the unique sheltered and deep water port facilities of the Shannon Estuary are highlighted to promoters of suitable industrial projects. SFADCo are also continuing their intensive promotion of small indigenous industry in the area.
(Limerick-East): Is the Minister aware that at peak construction over 5,000 men were employed at the Alcan site and that it is now winding down so that by early 1983 5,000 people will be looking for jobs? Is he further aware that the 700 jobs to be provided when the plant is finished are basically of a skilled nature and the people actually working on sites will not have the skills to be employed in the permanent plant? Is the Minister further aware that unemployment in Limerick city alone is now over 5,000 and in certain communities it is between 25 and 30 per cent? Can the Minister tell me of one project which either his Department or the IDA are processing at the moment which will provide even one extra job for the region?
I am aware of the winding-down operation in relation to the work-force and I understand that it will diminish to about 2,000 in December of this year. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that not all of the workforce are Limerick people. They are attracted in from other parts of the country. Nevertheless, Limerick itself has attracted many major industries in the electronics field and the area has been continually promoted by the IDA in that direction. A project for a further one is at a very advance stage of negotiation by the IDA in the Limerick city area. As I have said, the Deputy will appreciate that confidentiality must be kept until the company are ready to announce their going ahead situation. Everything possible is being done in relation to Limerick. Many of the jobs are to come on stream from the industries already existing there. Everything possible will be done in relation to Limerick city which is attracting a high degree of electronics firms.
(Limerick East): Is the Minister aware that the projected jobs in the electronics industry do not answer the needs to the people who are unemployed at the moment because they have not the skills required to work in these industries? Is he also aware that the thousands of people on the site who are becoming redundant are unskilled and semi-skilled and that they will not be eligible for employment in the Limerick city electronics factories? Are we to have a large building project somewhere in the estuary? That is what is needed for our unemployment problems at the moment. Has the Minister any views on this? What about the oil refinery, where the Minister's colleague, Deputy Colley, when Tánaiste, now reclining gracefully in the back benches by courtesy of the Minister and his friends, dug a sod in Ballylongford before the June election?
If we are to have a debate I will deal with each item——
There are five supplementaries in that question.
(Limerick East): Has the projected oil refinery advanced any further than the sod turned in the field?
The Deputy will be well aware that the construction industry was on the floor when we came into office and we provided £50 million to give it the necessary injection because it has a quick uptake in jobs in that area. Many people in the construction industry are mobile——
(Interruptions.)
I have been asked five questions in one and I am not getting an opportunity to deal with them. In relation to the oil refinery that the Deputy referred to, it is not as live as it was some time ago and I will give the reasons for that. As the Deputy and the House will be aware, oil production in Saudi Arabia has been scaled down very significantly and the crude oil was coming from Saudi Arabia to make this project possible. The promoters have indicated to the IDA recently that they are not pulling out of the project but they are leaving it downstream for the moment. When we assess the oil industry and the way it is going at the moment it is easy to understand the promoters' approach in this difficult situation.
(Limerick East): I have a final supplementary. Is the Minister aware of the nature of unemployment in Limerick city where certain communities have virtually no unemployment and others have a level of unemployment of 25 to 30 per cent and that these communities usually correspond to the areas of public housing where the level of skill is low?
Of course, as a Minister and a Deputy of this House I am aware of it. I have already taken up this situation with the Minister for Social Welfare. However, I would like to see a categorised breakdown of the people who are unemployed in the various areas so that we can know exactly what type of employment is needed in an area. At the moment they are all lumped together, as the Deputy, I and everyone else knows. We need to have them categorised and to section them out so that we can see what industries are required in particular areas and to try to respond to the needs of the various areas. I am also aware that training will play a more important part in the future and that the nature of the job in any worker's lifetime will have to change a couple of times and additional training facilities will have to be planned for in the future to try to alleviate some of the problems the Deputy has talked about.
19.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his proposals for the siting of a male employing industry in Castlebar, County Mayo.
I am assured by the Industrial Development Authority that they are fully aware of the employment needs of Castlebar.
The Authority have informed me that they are vigorously promoting their 27,000 sq. ft. advance factory which was completed in April 1981 for a suitable industrial project, preferably in the engineering sector. There have been six visits by industrialists to the town since the completion of the advance factory. In addition, the IDA have 16 acres of industrial land in the town, which they are also promoting for suitable industrial development.
I assume that the Minister having dealt with Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary, has no jobs left at this stage, but is he aware of the serious imbalance as between male and female employment in the town and of the very substantial and significant rise in male unemployment in that district? Finally, has any progress come out of the six visits by the industrialists to fill the 27,000 sq. ft. for a factory there?
I am aware of the imbalance in Castlebar at the moment. Nothing definite has come out of the visits there so far.
Is the Minister hopeful, and will he continue to press for progress in that direction? It is very important that a male-employing industry be sited there as soon as possible.
I am aware of the employment imbalance between male and female. There is a need for a male employment industry and the Deputy can be assured that we will be directing male employment in there to correct the imbalance.
20.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his plans to provide further employment in Carlow town and county.
I am informed that in the past two years the Industrial Development Authority approved a total of 85 projects for County Carlow which have an associated job potential of approximately 800 at full production. Many of these new jobs have yet to come on stream. In addition, the IDA have nearly 40 acres of land available at four sites in County Carlow for industrial development. The IDA will continue to vigorously promote Carlow for suitable industrial projects.
I am aware in my short time here that the Minister is master of IMI jargon which hides real meaning. Could he tell us in clear, simple language how many jobs have been provided in County Carlow, how many jobs will be provided there and how many jobs will be there at the end of this year? I am not asking for vague projections or plans. How many jobs will be provided?
The Deputy is well aware that it takes a long time to compute the precise information needed here. I have asked the IDA in relation to this area to extract information which is as close as possible so that I can have it circulated to the Deputies who then will have the opportunity of coming back to me. The procedure must be changed in order to get the precise information. The information which the Deputy has asked me for is not available to me in my file here but I am prepared to make it available to the Deputy when it is available to me.
The Minister has waffled all afternoon. He has talked vaguely——
Sorry, Deputy Manning, you are not allowed to make statements only to ask questions.
Can the Minister state how many jobs have been lost in County Carlow and how many jobs there will be, without going into all of the provisos, out-clauses and sub-clauses? How many jobs will there be in County Carlow over the next few years as a result of the Minister's plan?
That is a repeat supplementary.
I remind the Deputy that the question put down to me concerned my plans to provide further employment in Carlow town and that the specific information he is asking is not available on that question. If he wishes to put down a question on a specific matter I will be only too glad to reply.
21.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his plans to provide further employment for Kilkenny city and county.
I am informed that in the past two years the IDA have approved more than 70 projects with the potential to employ 640 persons at full production in County Kilkenny. Many of these jobs have yet to come on stream. The projects involve a fixed assets investment of over £25 million.
The IDA will continue to vigorously promote County Kilkenny for suitable industrial projects and will be giving the highest priority to securing the takeover of the Fieldcrest project. In addition the IDA have 33 acres available in the county for industrial development.
22.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his plans to provide industrial employment at Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, in view of the very large number unemployed in the area.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they are actively seeking a suitable replacement project for the former Kilkenny Engineering factory premises in Castlecomer. In addition, the IDA are vigorously promoting their eight acre site, in the town, for suitable industrial projects.