asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when work will commence on the Siúicre Éireann cpt site in Tuam, County Galway; if Goodman International have indicated when they hope to commence meat processing at the factory; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuam Processing Plant.
8.
I understand that the construction of the Tuam processing plant is being given priority by Goodman International in their development programme for the meat industry. Agreement in principle has been reached with Siúicre Éireann on the purchase of the site and some preparatory work has already started. The Department of Agriculture and Food have been informed that when certain outstanding issues are resolved, notably with the local authority on planning approval, site work will commence. It is expected to have the plant in production next year.
Is the Minister aware that the Irish Sugar Company, through their chief executive and board of directors, agreed to hand over a sum of £2 million as the cost, if you like, of their disengagement from sugar processing in Tuam last year? Will the Minister inform the House if that £2 million will now be made available because it transpires that there is a breakdown in so far as the infrastructural needs of the new factory are concerned? There must be a much better water supply augmentation scheme in Tuam — this has developed in the last couple of weeks. Is the Minister prepared to ensure that the Sugar Company live up to the guarantee they gave last year that £2 million would be paid by them to the community in Tuam and whoever would be starting the new industry?
That is a $2 million question.
The question in relation to the detail of the arrangement which the Sugar Company made with the Tuam community and the local authority there is a matter essentially and in the first instance for the Sugar Company and the local authority in Tuam.
Is the Minister aware of the particular agreement and, if so, will he insist that the Irish Sugar Company live up to their promise?
I am not aware of the details of the agreement. All I know is that agreement in principle has been reached with Siúicre Éireann on the purchase of the site which Goodman International used to construct their new plant there.
Can the Minister inform the House where the raw material for all these additional processing plants that have been grant aided over the last 18 months is to come from?
There is a number of questions down in relation to raw material, particularly Deputy O'Keeffe's priority question. I do not want to preempt the very comprehensive reply which I am sure will be forthcoming.
The Minister could give us a preview.
To come back to the content of my question——
Another type of suckler cow scheme to be announced.
With regard to my question, No. 8, would the Minister inform the House that he would see fit to contact the chief executive of the Sugar Company to ensure that the agreement negotiated at the time will be put in place and that the parties now negotiating a new deal for Tuam will be aware that that £2 million as negotiated is now available for development in Tuam?
I can assure the Deputy that I will take every possible step to ensure that the construction of and the bringing into production of the Tuam plant will be taken by me in relation to the organisation concerned and the Sugar Company.
Will the Minister see that they live up to their guarantee?
Order, please.
Can the Minister give the House the timescale involved in the building of this factory and also the time when it is hoped it will come into production? Will the Minister give every assistance in connection with the long-standing problem that exists?
On the timescale, some preparatory work has been carried out and, as Deputies Connaughton, Kitt and the other western Deputies will know, executives of the Goodman International organisation have been in Tuam in consultation with the planning authority down there. Consultation has taken place with the county council staff. I am informed that the project will commence as soon as possible, that it is hoped that initial production will take place in 1989. I can certainly assure Deputy Kitt and the other Deputies that I will contact the various organisations and bodies concerned with this project, so that it will get off the ground as quickly as possible.
I am calling Question No. 9.
Has the sod been turned yet?