asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if, in view of the high unemployment in the Inishowen Peninsula, he will make a statement on the efforts being made by the IDA to procure industries for the two empty advance factories in Carndonagh and Moville, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Industrial Development.
6.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that the advance factory at Carndonagh is at present occupied on a temporary basis by the Atlanfish project. Despite the efforts of the IDA, no interest has yet been shown in the advance factory at Moville. The IDA are continuing to promote these factories and the former Gerritsen Cooper factory in Carndonagh for suitable industries.
I would add that in four years 1978-1981 the IDA created over 300 new grant-aided jobs in the towns Buncrana, Carndonagh and Moville. Moreover, manufacturing employment in each of these towns increased in 1982 by an average of 10.5 per cent over 1981.
With all due respect, we are not interested in the jobs that are there, we are interested in unemployment in the area. I would like the Minister to ask the IDA to take a special interest in this part of Donegal where there is a high degree of unemployment.
The Deputy may not be interested in jobs that are there but I am and so are the IDA. They are not to be wished away by a facile supplementary question like that. However, knowing the area as I do, I will bear in mind the problems faced by the Inishowen Peninsula and, in reviewing industrial policy with the IDA, convey my concern and that of the Deputy to ensure that areas like this are given priority.
I do not appreciate the Minister using his experience of manipulating words to give the impression that I am not interested in jobs that exist in the county. Of course I am interested in those but I am more interested in obtaining further jobs. I take exception to his remarks.
I want to ask the Minister——
If the parish priest, in the form of the spokesman, is to come in with the curate on each question we will make very little progress.
As the spokesman for Industry and Energy I am entitled to express my views or to make helpful suggestions in the area of industrial development.
If the Deputy will bear with me for a moment, it does not matter to me, but the House will have to make up its mind whether it will get through a reasonable number of questions, say 30, in an hour or whether it is only six or seven.
With all due respect, it is very important that we explore every possible avenue of employment. I am not here to delay the House but could I ask the Minister if he would consider the area of the Inishowen Peninsula and that part of Donegal in conjunction with the hinterland of Derry city where there is also an extremely high unemployment rate? Would he consider setting up a tax free industrial zone in that area because it is very difficult to attract industry there? He would be doing a lot for cross-Border relations if he brought worthwhile industrial development into that area. Would he consider approaching the EEC for help in that regard?
Taxation is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
7.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the steps that have been taken to provide industry for Ardara, County Donegal.
I am informed that the Industrial Development Authority approved two small industries for Ardara in 1982 which will provide 64 additional jobs at full production.
These projects involve a fixed asset investment of £157,400 to which IDA will contribute £72,600 in grants.
When does the Minister expect these projects to commence?
In the case of John Molloy Limited, the grant will enable the company to expand their operations to employ an additional 42 persons, bringing employment to 80 on full production. The IDA approved a small industry grant in 1982 to Gallaghers Bakery to create an additional 22 jobs. They employed 43 persons in January 1983.
8.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the steps that have been taken to provide industry for Glenties, County Donegal.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that in its industrial plan it set a target for the creation of 1,000 new jobs in the town group of Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal, Killybegs and Glenties. In the first four years of the plan, IDA succeeded in creating 527 new grant-aided jobs in this town group.
The IDA are at present negotiating the purchase of a 2-acre site at Glenties, which would be suitable for industrial development.
Is the Minister aware that the jobs he speaks of may embrace the area around Glenties but no new jobs have been created in Glenties for some time? Would he look at Glenties and its hinterland specifically? Is the Minister aware that the area embracing Glenties and Ardara to which I referred in the first question has an extremely high level of unemployment, one of the highest levels in rural areas? In view of this will he instruct the IDA to take a personal interest in this area? Is the Minister aware that Glenties is surrounded by a Gaeltacht and, whereas Glenties is the responsibility of the IDA, the outskirts are the responsibility of Údarás na Gaeltachta. There seems to be a passing of the buck but the buck should stop with the IDA. Services in the town are under the jurisdiction of the IDA and not of Údarás na Gaeltachta. I am sorry for going on for so long but Tallaght got 15 minutes and Donegal is more important to me.
There are about half a million people in Tallaght.
As I told the Deputy already, the IDA are negotiating for the purchase of an industrial site in Glenties. They are near the Údarás na Gaeltachta area and, presumbly, benefit from industrial promotion there which is on more intensive basis than the IDA are capable of. Glenties and Ardara are, respectively, 17 and 12 miles from Killybegs, which is a large centre of employment. The IDA approved eight projects in 1982 in Killybegs which are planned to employ 187 people in full production.