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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1970

Vol. 250 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Grants.

155.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reasons for his decision to declare Clara, County Offaly, a designated area for the purpose of industrial grants; and the reasons why he refuses to make a similar declaration in respect of Athlone, County Westmeath.

As the Deputy will have seen from last week's Press reports, my decision to declare Clara a designated area arose from the proposed serious curtailment of the one industry on which the town is almost completely dependent. Athlone is in a different position and I am satisfied as to the adequacy of the generous incentives already available there. As I told the Deputy in reply to previous questions, the attraction of industry to Athlone has been receiving the special consideration of the Industrial Development Authority and I expect to be able to announce shortly the first result of their efforts.

Does the Minister not agree that the redundancy in the Athlone firm is as grievous for Athlone as the redundancy which unfortunately took place in Clara? I fail to see why the Minister could not make the gesture towards Athlone which he has seen fit to make to Clara. It leads one to the conclusion that it is political expediency because, Clara happens to be in his constituency.

That is a filthy allegation. The Deputy will find it very difficult to get co-operation from his colleague on that one.

I am not grudging it to Clara but I want the same for Athlone.

It does not sound like that. The position is that the town of Clara was completely dependent upon this industry and this was the reason for the designation. As I indicated to the Deputy previously and as I indicated to deputations from the town of Athlone, I am fully satisfied, because of the normal incentives offered by the IDA and because the IDA were concentrating on trying to specially assist Athlone, that something good will emerge. As I have stated in my reply, I expect to be in a position very shortly to announce the first result of IDA'S efforts to attract industry to Athlone.

I am very pleased to hear that and the redundant workers in Athlone will be extremely pleased to hear it. They have been redundant now since last September 12 months. Would the Minister at this stage be able to give some precise indication of what "very shortly" means?

Before Christmas.

I am obliged to the Minister.

May I ask the Minister what special circumstances must apply or what yardstick regulations does he apply before designating an area as underdeveloped? The Minister will appreciate that many of us have towns and areas in our constituencies which we feel ought to be designated as underdeveloped. I should like the Minister to indicate the criteria he uses in these circumstances because many feel that it is done mainly by political patronage.

As Deputy Cooney said before he left the House, a certain impression may have been created. It is natural that, because of the designation of Clara, the allegation may be made against the Minister who is also Deputy for the constituency that he has given particular attention to Clara. As a matter of fact, there are questions coming up which would give another impression. If Deputy Treacy knew the situation in Clara——

I am not concerned with Clara at all.

I know. In regard to the reason for designation, this arose because of the disaster that could befall and would befall the town of Clara arising from the closing down of the jute industry on which the town originally was built up and upon which the town has been depending for over 100 years. That is the type of criterion. I appreciate the Deputy's view in relation to, say, Clonmel, a town that he has mentioned; but the closure of an individual factory in Clonmel does not put the whole town out of business.

Carrick-on-Suir.

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