asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state (a) as at the latest date for which figures are available the number of people in actual employment in the Shannon Industrial Zone (i) in manufacturing, processing or in any way producing goods for export, and the different firms employing such people, and (ii) in building operations, and the greatest number employed at any time in (i) and (ii); (b) for the latest twelve months for which figures are available the value of the goods manufactured, processed or produced by firms in the Zone which have been exported; (c) the contributions over such twelve months period made to the firms for such exports (i) by the State by way of grant, loan or remission of tax or other impost and (ii) by local authorities by way of remission of rates; and (d) the number of buildings erected in the Zone at State expense or with State or local authority contributions, and the cost of such buildings; and how many of them are at present in use for export business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Industrial Zone.
(a) On 30th June, 1961, the number of people employed in the Shannon Free Airport Industrial Estate (i) in manufacturing, processing, or in any way producing goods for export was 724 and (ii) in factory building operations was 175. The greatest number employed at any time in (i) was the figure of 724 already mentioned and in (ii) was 240. Employment is given by the following manufacturing firms—Progress (International) Ltd., Lana-Knit (Ireland) Ltd., Sony Ltd., Standard Pressed Steel International Ltd., Rippen Ltd., Spee Ltd., Supersonic (Ireland) Ltd., Shannon Diamond and Carbide Processing Co. Ltd.
(b) Separate figures are not yet available in respect of exports from the Shannon Free Airport Industrial Estate. Records were commenced on the 1st July, 1961 and such figures will be available in the future. In the twelve months ended 31st March, 1961, 753,350 lbs. of goods produced by the factories were exported by air.
(c) Grants under Section 8 of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Act up to 30th June, 1961, amounted to £216,000. No contribution was made to the firms for exports (i) by the State but firms may qualify in due course for tax remissions under the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1958, and (ii) firms in the Estate will be entitled to the usual remission of rates for new factory buildings which will amount to approximately £6,000 during the coming year.
(d) With the exception of the special factory constructed by Rippen Ltd. to their own specification the factory bays in the zone are built to a standard design by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. and are financed out of State capital invested in the Company under Section 2 of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. Act, 1959. To date sixteen bays have been completed; a further seven are under construction. Expenditure on the construction of factories up to 30th June, 1961, amounted to £939,000. At present thirteen bays and one special factory are occupied by firms engaged in manufacture for export.