asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the up-to-date position concerning a factory in Roscommon (name supplied); and if he will give a definite indication as to when an industry will be located there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscommon Industry.
17.
The Industrial Development Authority are currently engaged in negotiations for the establishment of a new industry in the factory premises in question. There appears to be a good prospect of these negotiations being successful.
Is the Minister aware that on 23 July, 1970, the Minister informed the House that the IDA were negotiating with a certain group for the establishment of an industry in this factory? That was two years ago.
That is correct.
Could it be four years before——
No, the group with which the IDA were negotiating at that time pulled out of the project. They were not able to reach a satisfactory agreement. The negotiations I am referring to at present deal with a completely different group from the one they were negotiating with two years ago. In relation to this new group there seems a very good prospect of the negotiations at present going on being successful.
Will it be before the election?
When does the Minister expect these negotiations to conclude?
It is very difficult to know. We are hoping they will conclude satisfactorily in a reasonably short time but the difficulty is that until both sides have signed on the dotted line one cannot be sure. The prospects with the other group two years ago were very hopeful but it eventually did not come off because of a change in the circumstances of the promoting group at the time.
Can the Minister guarantee that these negotiations will not last long?
I cannot guarantee that. I can only speak for the IDA. I certainly cannot speak for the group with which they are negotiating.
How many jobs will be provided in this factory?
Question No. 18.
To use a referendum campaign expression; will EEC money be pumped into this factory in Roscommon as indicated in the Roscommon campaign?
"Vote No."
It was indicated that money from European funds would be pumped—there must be a special type of pump for pumping money—into industries in towns in Ireland and, if so, is it likely that money will be pumped into the factory in Roscommon and numerous others preferably in south west Cork to which we will be adressing ourselves later? How much money will Deputy Mrs. Burke get for her factory in Roscommon from EEC funds?
The Minister for Industry and Commerce at that time received a deputation in this House and he more or less gave them an undertaking that an industry would be established in this factory within 12 months of that time. That is nearly three years ago.
This is exactly what the Deputy is endeavouring to get me to do at present. The indications at that time were that there did not seem to be any doubt about the proposal being got off the ground. I feel exactly the same way about the proposal at this stage. This is an industry which it is hoped to get off the ground arising from the decision to join the EEC. If we had not decided that there would not be a prospect.
There does not seem to be much prospect.
Question No. 18.
How many jobs does the Minister expect it to provide?
We are hoping it will eventually provide jobs for 110 males and 30 females.
Could the Minister tell the House how long the IDA have been negotiating with the present industrialists in this case?
Since May 10th?
Oh, no. The negotiations had opened previous to May 10th.
The Minister has not answered my question.
Could we get on with Questions?
Over the past two months the IDA have been negotiating for the establishment of an industry in this factory.
With the industrialist——
We cannot have a debate on this question, important as it is. I am calling Question No. 18.
Were there other industrialists interested in this particular factory?
I cannot speak about other industrialists but the IDA have been endeavouring constantly and regularly over the last three years to get a suitable alternative industry into that factory to replace the original one. Almost every industrialist that went west of the Shannon was swayed in the direction of that industry.