asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if, in view of the higher than average unemployment rate in the area, it is proposed that the IDA designate Finglas and Ballymun as a priority job creation area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Finglas-Ballymun (Dublin) Job Creation.
11.
I am assured by the Industrial Development Authority that both Finglas and Ballymun are being actively promoted for manufacturing industry. In this regard, the IDA have available for industrial purposes two factories in Finglas of 28,300 square feet and 44,750 square feet which have been provided through an arrangement with a private developer. They have a 3,340 square feet factory unit in Ballymun and two units totalling 20,800 square feet in nearby Santry. The IDA are also promoting three large units of private factory space at the Airway Industrial Estate for suitable projects. Land comprising an 18-acre site at Finglas and a 20-acre site at Santry are also available for industrial development.
I presume the Deputy's question refers to the designation of areas for higher industrial development grant purposes. The National Economic and Social Council are, at my request, carrying out a review of the criteria for such designations. It would be inappropriate, therefore, for me to consider designating any further areas until this review is completed and examined by the Government.
It is clear from the Minister's reply that there is no shortage of space and sites. What is short is jobs in the area. Will the Minister agree that as a result of the loss of jobs at Storage Technology and Cleeves recently there is a need to treat the Finglas and Ballymun areas as priority cases, regardless of the question of higher grants? The Finglas and Ballymun areas should be a priority for the location of jobs, as has been done in other parts of the city.
I am very much aware of the problems in Finglas in particular. Deputies Flaherty and Tunney have been in touch with me, as has the Deputy, about this matter. I am well aware of the high level of unemployment in the area. It is very important to improve the environment for industry in the Finglas area. The industrial estates must be presented in the most attractive fashion possible. We would like to work with local interests to improve the presentation to visiting industries to the Finglas and Ballymun area from an industrial point of view.
The Minister has referred to the presentation of the Finglas area but, quite honestly, I have been listening to that for a long time not just from the Minister but from others. Will the Minister agree that the question of presentation is a minor one relative to the need to introduce industrialists or potential investors to the area and the question of presentation is one of environmental improvement which could be overcome relatively easily?
A substantial number of industrialists have been introduced to the Finglas area. The Deputy mentioned Storage Technology and I am aware that quite a number of people have visited or have been asked to visit that plant. It is the policy of the IDA to encourage industrial visits to the very substantial and valuable industrial estates available in the Finglas area. That will continue to be the policy.