asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce his plans for job creation in Dublin city centre; if he is aware that this area is one of the most blighted and disadvantaged in the whole country in terms of unemployment; and if he will give priority to this area as a result.
Written Answers. - Dublin City Centre Job Creation.
12.
I appreciate the fact that unemployment is a very serious problem in Dublin's inner city, but would emphasise that the Industrial Development Authority are very committed to the development of industry in that area, which in common with many city centres has suffered from the move to the suburbs of firms in search of suitable sites to build and expand.
In response to the needs of the Dublin Inner City the IDA in 1979 drew up a special programme of industrial development and, since that time, have committed considerable resources to the implementation of the programme. To date IR£20 million has been invested in the provision of an industrial infrastructure in the inner city which included the construction of 496,000 sq. ft. of factory space and the acquisition of 35 acres of land for development.
The bulk of the new factory space is in the form of enterprise centres which are specifically geared to cater for the needs of the type of small industry which flourishes in the centre city environment. Already 93 small Irish-owned firms have located in the two enterprise centres in Pearse Street and East Wall Road which collectively employ over 700 people in manufacturing enterprises which produce a range of goods from clothing and crafts to microcomputers.
In addition, since the regionalisation of IDA's small industry programme in 1984 a committed team of executives have been dealing exclusively with small industry development in Dublin. This year, the IDA expect to approve over 200 small industry projects with a potential 1,000 new jobs to be created in diverse areas of activity from consumer products through to electronics. The new centre at Gloucester Place which was completed in the middle of last year and comprises 18 small units ranging in size from 400 to 800 sq. ft. is being marketed vigorously by IDA with the local community group. Despite intensive efforts to secure locally promoted projects for this centre, the take-up has been disappointing with only three projects located in the centre so far. The IDA are now seeking to procure projects from outside the area which will employ local people.
In Prussia Street where IDA have constructed four factory units there are almost 100 people employed. In the IDA's small industry centre in Newmarket 170 people are employed in 11 factory units. The IDA, in close consultation with the local community have also allocated two units for the training of local people. One of these units, allocated to CERT, has already turned out close to 175 people trained in the catering industry while AnCO have established a community training workshop in the other unit.
The IDA have also allocated an 8,500 sq. ft. premises on the North Wall Quay to the North Wall Community Workshops Limited for the purpose of identifying locally based enterprises.
The IDA are anxious to encourage private enterprise and community groups to develop space for manufacturing industry and are already in discussions with one developer in the north inner city who is undertaking a development.
With regard to the question of giving priority to job creation in Dublin's inner city, this area has been designated for special incentives for a period of five years from 1 January 1983 which enables grants of up to 60 per cent for fixed assets to be paid to suitable industrial projects.
Finally, the Deputy will be aware that the Government recently announced the establishment of an international financial services centre committee, inter alia, to identify, in conjunction with the relevant public bodies and to advise the Government on a designated area in the Custom House docks site as the location for a major international financial services centre in Dublin.