asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will outline the IDA's proposals for Mitchelstown, County Cork, in view of their purchase of land there and having regard to their plan to promote industrial development.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Industrial Development.
22.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that a ten acre site suitable for industrial development has now been identified in Mitchelstown, County Cork. The IDA are at present in the process of acquiring this site. This site will be promoted for suitable industrial projects.
Has the Minister any plans for building an advance factory? That town is now suffering from the recession. Unemployment is rising. The town has always been well serviced by the dairying industry. It is a processing town. It is a one-horse town with overdependence on that kind of agricultural products.
There are no plans at the moment to build an advance factory on the site in question in Mitchelstown. As I said, the site has not been finally acquired. The Deputy will realise that in the north Cork area there is quite an amount of existing vacant factory space. It might not be the best use of resources to build more advance factories until we have made some progress towards filling the existing empty space. The money might be better spent in that direction. However, as a long-term project I will ask the IDA to look at this.
23.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the number of idle advance factories in County Cork; and if the IDA will rent them as warehouses to suitable clients.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they have seven advance factories and five cluster units vacant in County Cork. In addition there are three factories and ten cluster units provided by private developers which are available to IDA. Five of these factories have been reserved for specific industrial projects.
I appreciate the Deputy's interest in the possibility that revenue might be secured from renting vacant factory premises. However, the availability of these factories is a very important element of the IDA's incentive package and it is essential that these factories remain available to the IDA for promotion to visiting industrialists. The Deputy will understand the serious problems which could arise for the IDA — and, indeed, for the temporary tenant — if a factory rented as a warehouse were urgently required to locate a manufacturing enterprise in it.
Is the Minister aware that from time to time importers get offers and they have not got the accommodation to store the goods? I am very interested in this area. A number of people have approached me about this matter.
The Deputy raised this matter with me already. I am prepared to have a look at it, but I would be very reluctant to make a change in the existing practice for the reasons I have given.
24.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the plans the IDA have to replace the industry which closed in Buttevant, County Cork; if he is aware of the high unemployment in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that Adesco Limited recently took over the Buttevant Concrete premises on relocation from Mallow. This company will employ 19 at full production. In addition, the IDA have acquired a five-acre site at Buttevant which is being actively promoted for suitable industrial projects.
Is the Minister aware of the special situation in Buttevant due to the closure of the plant there? Does he consider it urgent that an industry should be acquired for the Buttevant area? Because the industry closed there many people are now unemployed. They are disillusioned and disheartened. This town which was once a thriving area is now a ghost town. Will he give it priority?
The IDA are making vigorous efforts to promote industrial development in the Buttevant area. They have acquired a five-acre site which is suitable for an industrial project. Commitments have also been made to development in adjacent towns. Through arrangements with private developers a 20,000 sq. ft. factory is under construction in Mallow and a 10,000 sq. ft. advance factory has been completed in Charleville. The IDA are taking a fair amount of action in this general area.
There is no point in talking about Charleville or Mallow. We are talking specifically about Buttevant which is an area of immediate concern to me and to the people of north Cork. I ask the Minister to consider it urgently on his priority list.
I will ask the IDA to look at the needs of Buttevant. The Deputy will realise that there are industrial closures over a vast range of towns, unfortunately, at present. While the IDA would like to give top priority to all of them, there are real problems and giving top priority could begin to lose its meaning if one were to adopt that approach. I will have a look at the specific needs of Buttevant in view of the closure of the plant referred to by the Deputy.
It is not right to say that the north Cork area is well serviced. That is far from being true.
I did not say it was well serviced. I said there was a substantial amount of vacant factory space in the area.