andMr. M. O'Leary asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of new firms established and new jobs created in the Cork city area in 1970, 1971 and in the first half of 1972; if he is aware of the high concentration of vulnerable and sensitive industries in the area exceptionally open to the freeing of trade; and if he will indicate the exceptional measures being taken by the Government to alleviate the current relatively high unemployment rate in Cork city and its environs and to provide alternative employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork City Employment.
56.
In replying to this question I am taking "the Cork city area" as referring to the Greater Cork area defined in the preliminary statement of the regional industrial plans of the Industrial Development Authority.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that during 1970, one new grant-aided industry commenced production in the area with an estimated employment at full production of 100; in 1971, six new grant-aided industries commenced production with an estimated employment at full production of 650 persons, and during the first half of 1972 one project commenced production with an estimated employment at full production of 160 persons.
I am aware of the industrial situation in the Cork city area and my Department and the IDA are doing everything possible to attract industry there. I am informed that at present, there are three new industry projects under construction in the area and that a further three have been approved for grant assistance but are not yet under construction; employment at full production in these projects is estimated at more than 1,000 people. There are a further six projects under consideration for the area.
Can the Minister say if the Government appreciate fully the very serious lack of employment opportunities in the Greater Cork area at the moment and if they appreciate also the fact that there are very few opportunities open not only to redundant workers but to school leavers in the area? The figures given do not indicate any dynamism on the part of the Government in bringing new industry to this very vulnerable area, possibly the most vulnerable area in the entire country because of the structure of industry there at present.
If the Deputy were fully aware of the employment situation in Cork it is by no means as bad as the Deputy thinks it is. I have given a pretty extensive list of what has recently been opened there, what is at present under construction and certain other industries for which grants have been passed but where construction has not yet begun.
Does the Minister appreciate that even the projected future employment arising out of projects sanctioned will in no way meet the extensive redundancy in Cork at present and certainly will not absorb school leavers coming out in the greater Cork area in the next five or six months?
In view of the fact that we shall have a by-election in Cork, how many factories will the Minister indicate we shall have in the Cork area in the coming month? I was in the next county and I saw a Corkman coming in with a cheque book going to build factories at every church gate in the county.
(Interruptions.)