asked the Minister for Industry and Energy (a) the number of people on the unemployment register for County Westmeath in (i) October, 1981 and (ii) October, 1982; (b) the percentage under 25 years of age in each case; and (c) the action the Government intend to take to provide employment for them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Unemployment Figures.
128.
I am informed by the Central Statistics Office that there were 2,481 people on the live register in Westmeath on 24 September 1982 the latest date for which figures are available. On 25 September 1981 the figure was 1,844. The percentage of total unemployment under the age of 25 in September, 1981 was 27.9 per cent and 32.9 per cent on 24 September 1982.
Every effort is being made to attract suitable industrial projects to Westmeath and in this regard I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that in recent years, it has approved 40 projects for grant assistance in the county with a total job potential of 748.
The IDA has 196 acres of land and 72,000 sq. ft. of factory space available in the county for industrial projects. In addition a 24,000 sq. ft. factory is presently under construction in Athlone and construction on a 6,000 sq. ft. factory in Moate is expected to commence in November 1982.
129.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy (a) the number of people on the unemployment register for County Longford in (i) October, 1981 and (ii) October, 1982; (b) the percentage under 25 years of age in each case; and (c) the action the Government intend to take to provide employment for them
I am informed by the Central Statistics Office that there were 1,487 people on the live register in Longford on 24 September, 1982, the latest date for which figures are available. On 25 September, 1981, the figure was 1,126. The percentage of total unemployment of people under the age of 25 was 28.5 per cent in September, 1981, and 30.8 per cent in September, 1982.
Every effort is being made to attract suitable industrial projects to Longford and in this regard I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that in recent years it has approved 80 projects for grant assistance in the county with a total job potential of 1,042.
In addition the IDA has approximately 34 acres of land available for industrial development in the area, and a 7,000 sq. ft. factory in Granard. I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that a 25,000 sq. ft. advance factory is to be constructed under the private finance agreement on an IDA site at Lisnamuck. Following the closure of the Steegan plant at Granard earlier this year, a new company, Tang Sportswear Ltd. has been approved by the IDA to take over the factory. The new company, which will manufacture mountaineering sportswear and related equipment is expected to employ 100 at full production.