Vol. 221 No. 11
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on progress to date regarding the siting, planning and erection of the proposed industrial estate for Galway; and when it is expected that factory buildings will be available for renting to interested industrialists.
37.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the number of inquiries received to date from interested industrialists regarding the proposed industrial estate for Galway.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together. As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, a statement of Government policy in relation to development centres and industrial estates was issued in August, 1965. In accordance with that policy An Foras Tionscal has been charged with the task of establishing and administering industrial estates. That body will not be in a position, however, to enter into firm commitments in this respect until the necessary enabling legislation is passed by the Oireachtas. Proposals for such legislation will be introduced in Dáil Éireann in the near future. In the meantime such preparatory work as it is possible to undertake in relation to the industrial estates at Galway and Waterford is being carried out.
I am not in a position, however, to say at this stage when factory buildings will be available on the estates for renting.
With regard to inquiries from interested industrialists about the proposed industrial estate at Galway, the position is that while a number of inquiries of a general nature has been received, no specific industrial proposal has been received.
Could the Minister give us any indication of what the Government are doing about the factories in Galway that are already closing down?
Sin ceist eile.
That is a separate question.
That is not true. There are no factories closing down in Galway.
Potez, Galway Foundries. The Electricity Supply Board could get £7 million and the Government cannot get a penny.
