asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if an industrial estate for the midlands is under consideration; and when he hopes to be able to make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Industrial Development.
120.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a similar question of his on 3rd March, 1966. Regional Planning Studies under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, are still in progress in seven regions, including the region comprising Counties Roscommon, Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, South Kildare and Laois. Pending completion of these studies, I am unable to indicate when a statement can be made in the matter.
121.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of recent statements concerning the establishment of an industrial development area for the Limerick-Ennis area, he will authorise a similar programme of development for Nenagh and North Tipperary.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on the 14th November, 1967, to a question about industrial development of Limerick. Consideration of other areas must also await the completion of the review mentioned.
Can the Minister indicate whether or not it is a fact that the same grant will be given for the Limerick-Ennis area as for the undeveloped areas for the establishment of new factories? Was that a statement by the Government or by the Minister for Education?
The Deputy will be aware that already Ennis is in the undeveloped areas. I presume he is referring to a statement by the Minister for Education. So far as I know, the statement made by the Minister for Education was in substance the statement which I made to the House in reply to Deputy T. O'Donnell on another occasion when I stated that this was a matter which was being considered in connection with a general review of our industrialisation programme.
Am I to take it that Limerick city does not get the extra grant?
Not at the moment.
Is the Minister aware that a definite statement was made that the Cabinet had made a decision to ask both the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Minister for Transport and Power for a report on adding to this area? Is he further aware that the Minister for Transport and Power very fairly stated last week that that was not so, that in fact there was no change in the priorities?
What Deputy Tully has just said bears out what I said.
It contradicts what Deputy O'Malley said.
I have said that the matter is being considered at the moment in the context of a general review of our industrialisation programme.
May I ask the Minister a direct question? So far as he is aware was there a Cabinet decision to include this area as the Minister for Education stated before the recent by-election?
The Minister for Education did not make that statement.
The papers said he did, and if he did not it should have been contradicted.
What he said was that consideration was being given to this and that is what I have said.
Another Mr. O'Malley spoke on that occasion.
There may have been some confusion because there was another Mr. O'Malley.
There could have been ten different Mr. O'Malleys.
As long as it happens close enough to the poll and the mistake is not discovered until after the count, everything is all right.
Before the by-election in Limerick, I stated in this House what I have stated just now.
We are not blaming the Minister.
The Minister is the jam in the sandwich.