asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that, owing to the prosperity of the nation over the last five years, the present drainage system in the north and south city of Dublin is unable to cater for the building of factories at Santry, North Road, Finglas, Coolock, Robinhood and Walkinstown on the verge of the city; and, if so, if he will have a conference with the Dublin City and County Manager and technicial officials to try to expedite a proper drainage scheme to cater for the needs of a prosperous economy.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Drainage.
77.
Drainage problems affecting industrial development in parts of the areas in question have already been the subject of consultations between officers of my Department and the City and County Manager and his advisers. A number of drainage projects have already been submitted to my Department and are under consideration. A report is being prepared for Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council by a specialist consulting engineer on the general problem of sewage disposal in the South Dublin area.
I understand that the Corporation have lands available at Ballyfermot, Coolock and Finglas for factory sites and that they have not failed to respond to any applicant for a factory site. In addition lands in private ownership have been zoned for industrial purposes and are capable of being serviced. Any question of zoning and servicing further lands in the Dublin area for industrial development will have to be carefully considered from the viewpoint of the general planning of the area.
The Minister's reply is contrary to the information I have received. Is the Minister aware that during the past week I received inquiries from three potential industrialists who are anxious to establish factories in this drainage area? I want the Minister to take an active part in this because, due to the prosperity of the nation under Fianna Fáil——
This is surely not the new policy of attack, is it?
In reply to Deputy Burke's supplementary question, I just wish to say that if the facts as he knows them are different from those given to me, I shall be glad to get his side of the story and then we can find out where the difference lies. In so far as there is any real difficulty in siting these factories, if we ever run out of sites in Dublin, I shall be happy to accommodate them elsewhere in the country.
Are the factories not running out?