asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the names of, or the owners of, each of the one hundred new factories stated by the President in his speech at Kilkenny on the 11th September to have been established since he came into office, and if he will also state the address or location of each of these new factories, the classes of goods produced, the amount of capital (a) nominal and (b) paid up, whether the factory is natively or foreign controlled and the number of (1) men, (2) women, (3) boys and (4) girls at present employed in each?
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Location of New Factories.
The total number of factories and workshops reported as having been newly opened in the Saorstát since March 1932 is 303. Included in this total are factories making the following classes of goods: —Boots and shoes, 3; waterproofs, etc., 3; furniture and upholstery, 11; manufacture of medicinal preparations and packing of various classes of goods, 25; wholesale clothing, 3; ladies' gowns and dresses, 5; furriers, 3; other classes of wearing apparel, 6; saw mills, 2; shirts and collars, 2; bicycle assembling, 3; twine and cordage, 1; galvanised hollow-ware, 1; spades and axles, 2; paints, 1; concrete products, 2; bedding, 2; bakeries, 2; glass bottles, 1.
The preparation of a return giving all the information required by the Deputy would involve an amount of time and trouble which, in view of the present pressure of work in my Department would be unwarranted. I will consider laying on the table of the Dáil at a later date a report of the kind indicated in the Deputy's question.
Do I understand from the Minister that since the President's speech in Kilkenny on 11th September an additional 203 factories have been started?
The Deputy can understand that 303 factories and workshops have been reported to my Department as newly opened since March, 1932.
Do I understand that the President was misinformed in his speech at Kilkenny? In view of the fact that there is so much unemployment, and as clerical officers are no doubt available, would the Minister give employment to a few of the clerical officers now available in making out the names and addresses of the firms that have been started and the class of goods they manufacture?
Do the Minister's records contain any reference to the factory which has been opened for the purpose of bending corrugated iron?