Tá mé buíoch díot as ucht an am a thabhairt dom chun an cheist seo a phlé maidir leis na dea-crachtaí atá faoi láthair ag Smailcbhia Teoranta i monarcha Stáit tionscail Údarás na Gaeltachta ar na Doire Beaga i mo dháilcheantar féir. Le déanaí cuireadh na hoibrithe ar thrí lá sa tseachtain in áit cúig lá sa tseachtain mar ba ghnáth dóibh a bheith ó bunaíodh an mhonarcha seo.
Ag dul ar ais go dtí 1974 thug Aire na Gaeltachta an ama sin cead do Ghaeltarra Éireann tacaíocht a thabhairt chun an tionscal seo a bhunú agus ní raibh ag an am sin ach mionlach na scaireanna a bhí ag Gaeltarra Éireann. Ó am go ham nuair a bhí deacrachtaí ag an gcomhlacht seo, chuir Aire na Gaeltachta agus Gaeltarra Éireann nó Údarás na Gaeltachta airgead isteach sa chomhlacht sin go dtí gur tháinig an t-am nuair a bhí tuairim is 100 faoin gcéad de na scaireanna ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Glacaim gur tuairim is 95 faoin gcéad de na scaireanna atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta anois. Os rud é go bhfuil an méid sin scaireanna acu — 95 faoin gcéad — glacaim gur ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ag Aire na Gaeltachta atá an dualgas chun fadhbanna na monarchan seo a réiteach.
Tá a fhios ag Roinn na Gaeltachta agus ag Aire na Gaeltachta, an Teachta O'Toole, go bhfuil a lán fadhbanna agus deacrachtaí maidir leis an chomhlacht seo. An deacracht is mó atá acu ná na fiacha atá ag an gcomhlacht seo a ghlanadh. Thuig mise roimh dheireadh na bliana go mbeadh an tAire ag dul chuig an Rialtas chun cead a fháil níos mó airgid a thabhairt don chomhlacht seo chun na fiacha seo a ghlanadh agus an comhlacht seo a chur ar bhunús nua. Tá díomá orm, a Cheann Comhairle, nár tharla rud ar bith go dtí seo — faoi mar is eol dom ná ag duine ar bith sa cheantar sin — maidir leis an rud a thuig mise, go raibh an tAire ag dul chuig an Rialtas chun fordheontas a fháil chun cuidiú leis an mhonarcha seo agus chun cuidiú leis na hoibrithe. Shíl mé freisin go raibh rationalisation study déanta agus ceapaim de réir an staidéir sin go bhfuil sé cruthaithe go bhfuil áit don chomhlacht seo agus gur féidir na jobanna atá ansin a shábháil agus b'fhéidir níos mó jobanna a chur ar fáil.
The function of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to create jobs in the Gaeltacht and this industry is based on a raw material which is available in County Donegal and the Six Counties. We should ensure that a factory such as this is a viable proposition. It is the only factory in the industrial estate which has raw material readily available. The packaging material is manufactured in the factory next door. The expertise should be available and the only problem appears to concern market research and development. Donegal farmers should be encouraged to grow the type of potato which is necessary for the product. However, farmers are being discouraged from doing so because of the uncertainty surrounding the factory's future.
It is difficult for me to establish the exact number of jobs involved since some of the employees are full-time and others are part-time or temporary. I understand that about 100 people are employed directly while others are employed in auxiliary industries. Europlas manufacture the packaging material and jobs could be at risk there too. A rationalisation programme was prepared and this should be with the Minister for consideration. Based on this he will make his case to the Government. I would point out to him that this is the only factory on the estate which has raw material available in the county and province. Some of the money which is owed is due to the Revenue Commissioners and it would be poor economics if the Minister for Finance did not give the Minister for the Gaeltacht the necessary funds to ensure the maintenance of jobs in this factory. I believe the industry could be expanded and the number of jobs increased.
I regret to say that some of the unfounded allegations in relation to Údarás na Gaeltachta and companies within the Údarás may have contributed to the difficulties of this factory and of several other factories under the umbrella of Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is unfortunate that the Member who made the allegations here is not taking the opportunity tonight to make a short statement of regret in regard to his allegations which have now been proved, as a result of the report of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to have no basis.
It is necessary that financial assistance should be forthcoming to save these 100 jobs and to help create further employment in my constituency which has the highest rate of unemployment in the country. Figures show that west Donegal has an unemployment rate which is three times higher that the national average. These points should be borne in mind by the Government when deciding on the future of this factory.
Market research and development would seem to be a problem, as there is a drop in the market at present despite the fact that this product, this Sam Spuds product, can compete with any other product of its type in this country or on the Continent. It is based on a natural, national and renewable resource. That cannot be repeated too often. In adition, in this factory there is some of the most modern machinery in the world. I hope the Minister will ensure that this money is made available as quickly as possible. The fact that the factory is now on a three-day week could be its death knell. I appeal to the Minister to make the necessary finance available. No doubt my two colleagues with whom I am sharing my time will fully support my plea on behalf of the workers in this factory.