asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what steps will be taken to have the factory at Dowra, County Leitrim, opened so that the 35 employees who were laid off can be reinstated in employment there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leitrim Factory.
44.
The Industrial Development Authority have had discussions with a number of industrialists with a view to the setting up of a replacement industry at Dowra. I am informed that nothing positive has yet emerged but the authority are continuing their efforts to have the factory re-opened.
This is the usual reply that is given every time a factory is closed. A number of factories in my constituency have closed and have not been reopened. Can the Minister not give us more definite information in this instance? We are put off with vague replies and finally the matter is forgotten. There were six factories in fairly close proximity which closed down but we got the same information about all of them. We were told that efforts were made to reopen them but were not successful.
I cannot accept what the Deputy has said. He has mentioned five other factories of which I am not aware. When a factory closes down the attention of the IDA is directed to the matter with a view to attracting an alternative industry. I do not think there is any other kind of reply I could give. Surely the Deputy does not expect me to say that the IDA are doing nothing about it?
Tell the truth.
I am telling the truth.
When a factory is being considered for an area the most strict investigations are made regarding viability of the factory but frequently after 18 months or thereabouts the factory closes down. This must lead us to believe that the measures taken have not been adequate. The Department should be able to see further ahead than 18 months and have a good indication about the prospects for the factory.
Normally Deputies press me to go ahead and approve of grants without the required check being carried out. I am often accused of allowing the IDA to be too choosy with regard to factories.
(Cavan): With regard to this factory at Dowra, no doubt the Minister is aware that there is a considerable amount of State money involved and that it operated for one year only? There is concern and frustration in this rural area about the closure of the factory. I would ask the Minister to make a special effort in this case in order to restore the morale of the people of that area and with a view to preventing the emigration of the 30 or 40 people involved in this instance. I would ask him to do something to get another undertaking into this area immediately.
I appreciate what the Deputies have said. At the moment the IDA have three different concerns interested in this area and they have spoken to those concerns. There are three different degrees of interest in it. The IDA are doing everything they can to try to attract an alternative industry. One of the problems is that the original proprietor and managing director died shortly after setting up the works.