asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) the number of applications in respect of new industries in County Cork received by the IDA in 1969, 1970 and 1971; (b) the number of new industries in each of the three years as a result of such applications, and (c) the number of industries expected to commence operations in 1972 as a result of such applications.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Industries.
37.
The Industrial Development Authority has not the statistics readily available to enable a reply to be given to (a) of the Deputy's question. As regards (b), I am informed that the number of new industries which commenced production in County Cork in each of the three years concerned is as follows: 1969—4; 1970—7; 1971—9.
It is expected that five new industries will have commenced production in the county by the end of 1972.
In December the Minister for Industry and Commerce told me there were nine industries, in what he called the pipeline, for County Cork this year and he wrote to the Cork Council of Trade Unions on 22nd December and said this figure was 16. Now the Minister tells me it is only five. There seems to be a contradiction between these three figures in six weeks to two months.
Nine for 1971.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce told me on 2nd December that there were nine new industries in the pipeline for 1972; on 22nd December he wrote to the Cork Council of Trade Unions and told them there were 16 new industries and now the Minister for Transport and Power, for the Minister for Industry and Commerce, says there are five. Any figure will do apparently. That is about the size of it. The Taoiseach told Deputy Desmond yesterday that there are over 3,000 unemployed in Cork city alone, not to mind the fringe areas, and the Minister for Industry and Commerce tosses these figures evidently off the top of his head. He does not even do research into them because he has given three different figures in the space of two months.
If it is any help to the Deputy, I will ensure that the supplementary information I have here specifying the particular industries for the years in question is furnished to the Deputy.
I want to know why the contradiction between the three figures. I am concerned to get immediate employment into Cork and I was assured by the Minister for Industry and Commerce early in December that there were nine new industries coming; then the figure jumped to 16 on 22nd December and now it is five. What is the actual figure?
I will give the precise details supplemental to what I have already said in the reply.
Question No. 38.
Why not give them now?
Question No. 38.
There are two pages of supplemental figures here.
There are three different figures given. Is there any industry coming to Cork?
Order. Question No. 38.
Would the Minister say where he gets his information on new industries established and would he also indicate his definition of an industry?
I have given the figures for the relevant years in the question tabled by Deputy Barry. I have also got here details which I will furnish to all the Deputies in Cork, including Deputy Murphy.
Would it be given an additional industry in County Cork in this particular type of case in which a man got a grant from the Industrial Development Authority?
We cannot discuss that matter on this particular question. This is a statistical question. We cannot discuss specific cases on this question.
Is that the type of industry that is deemed to be a new industry?
Question No. 38.
I will put down the question again next week for the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
I believe in an open mind. I will furnish all the information I have here to every Deputy in Cork.