asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will outline plans to reduce the rate of unemployment in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Unemployment.
364.
I am aware of the unemployment situation in County Donegal and have been assured that the Industrial Development Authority is actively promoting the county for suitable industrial employment generating projects.
Since 1981 the IDA has approved over 250 industrial projects for the county with an investment potential of £38 million towards which the IDA has committed over £23 million in grants.
Major overseas companies and indigenous firms assisted by the IDA include Abbott Laboratories, Donegal Rubber, IMED, Magees of Donegal, McCarters, Buncrana and W. McKinney & Sons, Letterkenny, which between them employ 1,500 people. Further jobs have yet to come on-stream in these and other IDA assisted projects in the county. Manufacturing employment has in fact increased by 8.5 per cent in County Donegal since 1981.
The IDA has over 180 acres of land at eight locations and 140,000 sq. ft. of factory space available for industrial development in County Donegal. A craft centre of 4,000 sq. ft. has been provided at Donegal and small industry factory units are being constructed in Buncrana and Milford. In addition a 3×3,000 sq. ft. cluster unit is planned for Ballyshannon.