asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if the IDA propose to purchase the alternative energy factory in Woodford, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Woodford (Galway) Factory.
11.
I understand from the IDA that, following the liquidation of the company which formerly owned the premises in question, they are actively seeking a new industrial project for those premises.
The IDA do not, however, propose to purchase the premises in question. The authority already have unoccupied factory space in this general area which they have been very actively promoting for industrial use.
Is the Minister aware that there are 600 people out of work in this area and that this factory was the only supplier of wind generators in the country. In view of that and in view of all the questions that have been asked about alternative energy and the high cost of energy to the Exchequer could the Minister assure the House that he will tell the IDA they should use this factory as a pilot effort to try to have alternative energy available here?
The Deputy will probably be aware that considerable efforts have been made by the IDA to try to attract suitable industry into this particular premises. Originally the State did virtually everything possible to try to see that the original firm would continue trading and since that time the State has endeavoured, to secure a solution to the takeover of the firm by other interests and those steps were unsuccessful. Since then the IDA have been very active in endeavouring to encourage industry to come into the area. The IDA, as the Deputy will also know, have two advance factories adjacent to Woodford, the 7,000 square foot advance factory in Portumna and a 24,000 square foot advance factory in Loughrea. The IDA, because of those circumstances, do not propose to purchase the premises of the alternative energy factory, which was the subject matter of the Deputy's question.
The Minister said that the IDA do not propose to purchase this premises. The two factories he refers to in Portumna and Loughrea are vacant factories. Would the Minister assure the House that he will put it to the IDA that this factory can be used on a pilot basis to have alternative energy available? Would he recommend this?
The IDA have examined the entire question of trying to encourage firms involved in the field of alternative energy into participation in some shape or form in this factory, so far without success. As the Deputy quite correctly says, the other two advance factory units are currently vacant and the authority are naturally anxious to attract in users who will take up the space in one or both of those factories. In that context, the authority feel it would be inappropriate for them to purchase a third interest in the general area before succeeding in getting a satisfactory user for one or both of the two advance factories I have referred to.
Would the Minister agree that there is a national necessity for alternative energy?
Yes