asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the premises allotted for a drapery shop by Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited have been leased; if so, to whom; and at what rent per annum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Industrial Estate.
34.
I am informed by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company that they invited tenders by public advertisement for temporary premises for letting as a general drapery shop. The tenancy has been offered to the person who submitted the highest tender. The rent at which the lease will be granted is substantially higher than that offered by the next highest tenderer.
Is the Minister aware that there is grave satisfaction among the residents of this new town because the premises have been let to a nonresident while one of their own members was willing to give this service? The only reason they offered the premises for tender was that representations were made on her behalf to rent the premises. Would the Minister not agree that the company's action in this case is not in accordance with their expressed wish to create a happy community?
I presume the Deputy means the degree of dissatisfaction? I am not aware of the degree of dissatisfaction mainly because I did not think that the name of the successful tenderer or new tenant had become public as yet except in so far as the unsuccessful tenderers had been notified that they were unsuccessful. I think it is unfair to suggest that SFADCO are upsetting the local community by appointing an Irishman and a Clareman to a tenancy of this nature when he is the highest tenderer. Where there is an advertisement of this nature and where premises are offered for tenancy on a tender basis, there is no reason to change from the practice, whereby the highest tender is accepted if there is not some specific reason why it should not be accepted. I do not think there is any justification for dissatisfaction here. It is not a question of some foreigner being brought in; it is a question of somebody who, perhaps, is not actually living in the town area.
Would the Minister state the rent?
It is not a normal practice.
Is there any specific reason why the Minister should not state it?
There is no special reason but it is not the practice. I said in the reply that the rent at which the lease would be granted was substantially higher than that offered by the next highest tenderer. I think that is sufficient. I do not think there is any reason why I should disclose the rent.
Or give the name?
That will become known as soon as somebody gets it.
I know it will and why not the rent also?
35.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state with respect to the Shannon customs-free industrial zone (a) the total number of separate industrial activities and the number of persons employed therein, (b) the number of such firms and their employees who are engaged in the processing for re-export of materials imported free of duty from countries other than those which constitute the states of EEC and the applicant states.
There are 31 industrial firms operating in the industrial estate at Shannon. These employ 4,286 persons. Practically all the produce of the firms is exported. It is estimated that about 70 per cent of the materials used by the firms is imported free of duty from countries other than those which will constitute the enlarged EEC. It is not possible to say to what extent the individual firms process such materials.