asked the Minister of Industry and Energy the efforts being made by the IDA to secure industry for west Waterford.
49.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Waterford Job Creation.
48.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if, in view of the high rate of unemployment in the west Waterford area, he will make a statement on the present position in respect of new projects for the area.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
The Industrial Development Authority set a target of 600 new jobs in grant-aided manufacturing industry for the town group Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Lismore and Tallow in its Industrial Plan 1978-82. Six hundred and twenty-five actual jobs were created in the first four years of the plan. These gains have been more than offset by job losses, particularly in the traditional industries.
In recent years a number of major projects and expansions have been secured for the west Waterford area. In Dungarvan, Stafford Miller (Ireland) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Block Drug Company, US, is at present recruiting its workforce. The company plan to employ 131 people at full production. Discussions are continuing between the IDA and Rumson Chemicals concerning the implementation of a project with an employment potential of 130 people in Dungarvan. In Tallow, the former Jyden project, which went into receivership in late 1982, has been taken over by Kingsford Industries who will maintain the existing 90 jobs and who plan to provide a further 50 jobs within the next 18 months.
In addition, the IDA are continuing to promote their 10,000 sq. ft. factory in Cappoquin, the two 3,000 sq. ft. factory units in Dungarvan and their land bank of over 70 acres in west Waterford, together with the 11.5 acres industrial park provided by Dungarvan Urban District Council.