asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if, in view of the fact that he has increased the maximum level of IDA grant aid from 45 per cent to 60 per cent for industrial projects in Dublin inner city, he will increase the level of grant aid available to firms establishing in Waterford city and county by a similar percentage; and if in view of the high level of unemployment in Waterford, he will take immediate steps to establish at least two heavy industries there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Employment.
15.
I am aware of the employment needs of Waterford city and am satisfied that the approach now being pursued by the Industrial Development Authority, which entails the flexible use of their full range of incentives, is the most appropriate and effective means of securing new industry for the city. The city has a number of natural advantages for the attraction of industry, including a tradition of important industrial skills, in addition to a well-developed infrastructure and communications system. In these circumstances I do not propose to designate the area for the higher rate of IDA grants.
As the Deputy is aware, the IDA own a 280-acre strategic site at Gorteens-Kilmurray which is being promoted for a large industrial project.
Is the Minister aware that the level of unemployment in excess of 3,500 compares adversely per capita of the population with the rate of unemployment in Dublin? In these circumstances, does he not consider that Waterford is entitled to at least the same consideration by him and by the Government? Will he expand on the statement that the Gorteens site is being promoted for an industrial project? Can I take it that there is a proposal being actively considered by the IDA for siting there?
The Deputy need not take that from what I said.
It is only bull.
I did not make any reference to a proposal. I do not know where the Deputy was yesterday but he was not in Waterford when I was opening a £5 million plant. If he was there, he would be fully aware of the situation relating to Waterford city. Of the high unemployment which has occurred in Waterford city over the last 12 months, 75 per cent of it comes from the non-manufacturing industrial area. I am talking about manufacturing jobs. I am not talking about the whole spectrum, because many jobs lost in Waterford city come from the construction industry.
That is not correct.
The unemployment situation in the inner city of Dublin is 40 per cent, which is about three times greater than the national average and four times greater than the Community average. Have we come to a stage in society where we begrudge the people of the inner city, who have not got the skills to take up the industries and rely on unskilled labour——
Who is to blame for it, only 30 years of Fianna Fáil mismanagement?
Have we come to the stage where we begrudge them the small industries which are needed in Dublin city to develop our capital city?
Would the Government have spent a penny on it if Deputy Gregory was not around?
My question relates to Waterford and I wish to pursue the right of the people of Waterford to get employment as well as the people in Dublin, against whom I have no grudge.
A question please, Deputy.
Would the Minister agree that he has a responsibility to be in the House when Parliamentary Questions are addressed to him? As a former Minister of State, I felt obliged to be in the House to pursue those questions and it is irresponsible of the Minister that he should choose to be absent from the House.
No statements, please, Deputy.
If the Deputy thought it was irresponsible of me to go to Waterford yesterday to meet the vice-president of a US company which is coming to Ireland——
I met him in Dublin.
——and make arrangements about a further US industrial project and arrange for people to introduce me to certain people whom I hope to meet when I am in America to attract industry to County Waterford, I am amazed at the Deputy's allegation.
The Minister could have met him in Dublin.
I do not have a Minister of State.
I hesitate to interrupt this public relations exercise, but can the Minister say what urban analysis his Department possess to enable him to introduce a differential of the kind referred to in the Question placed by Deputy Collins which allows him to establish the difference between the inner city problems and the urban problems of Waterford? If he has not such an analysis in his Department, can he state what kind of formal consultation took place?
Part of that is a separate question which, if the Deputy puts it down, I will be delighted to answer.
It is not.
It is further taking the view that I have made the wrong decision in relation to pursuing EEC agreements for the redesignation of Dublin inner city.
Do not run away from the question. The Minister was very smart a few minutes ago.
If the Deputy puts down a separate question, I will be glad to give him the information.
On a point of order——
The analysis is not available. The information sought is a separate question.
We cannot have an argument. Deputy Quinn on a point of order.
On a point of order, surely it is for you, Sir as the Chair, to decide whether such a matter is separate or not. Surely that behaviour from the Minister is more appropriate to programmes on RTE than in the House. Figures are mentioned in the Question which clearly indicate that there is a differential in relation to Dublin vis-à-vis other cities exercised by the Minister's Department and the IDA. I asked as politely as I could the question: what basis of urban analysis exists within the Department which allows the Minister to come to a figure of that magnitude and not, for example, 80 per cent? If the Minister has the urban analysis will he make it available? That is not a separate question. It is implicit in the core of the one which is on the Order Paper.
If the Deputy wants the full basis of the analysis I will be glad to send it to him.
Is the Minister aware——
I have already allowed several supplementaries. A final question.
——that by increasing the maximum grant available to Dublin, he is enlivening a rat race within member states of the EEC to attract industry and is he aware that by so doing he may jeopardise the chances of the IDA in attracting industry to Ireland vis-à-vis other countries?
The statements made are totally incorrect.
They are quite correct.
I made a personal visit to Commissioner Andriessen in relation to the problem. Only a section of the inner city will be redesignated and not the total city. If it was the total city I would appreciate the anxiety expressed by Deputy Collins in relation to other European cities. I am not doing that. It is for a particular section of the capital city which, I assure the Deputy, will not endanger the IDA or any other body.
The Minister has endangered the whole IDA policy in this area.
In the absence of any analysis of the type referred to by Deputy Quinn, would the Minister rely on his local knowledge of the towns of Athlone and Mullingar and arrange for an appropriate increase in the grants to those towns?