asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the industrial incentives and opportunities which have been made available to the western and northern areas of County Clare have been successful in stemming emigration from those areas; and, if not, the further steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Clare Emigration.
11.
While there has been progress on industrial development in north and west Clare during the last few years the growth in industrial employment has not been sufficient to counteract the very large drop in agricultural employment, so that emigration from the area has continued.
The Shannon Free Airport Development Company are doing everything possible to attract industry to the areas in question and are at present engaged in discussions with local groups with a view to ascertaining what are the basic reasons for the comparative lack of development in these areas. It is hoped that constructive proposals may emerge from these discussions.
Can the Minister say what steps he intends taking to counteract the situation that has been allowed to develop during a number of years in the areas referred to? The steps taken so far have not been successful——
The Chair would prefer if the Deputy would not make a statement.
I assure the Deputy that I appreciate the urgency of the situation in regard to the level of employment and emigration. My attention has been brought to this unsatisfactory state of affairs and while the Deputy would appreciate that in regard to the allocation of resources, the problem must be considered in a national sense and not in regard to a particular area, this particular area has suffered in a rather special way and I propose finding out if it is possible, within the resources available to me and in co-operation with SFADCO, to remedy the situation.
I would remind the Deputy that discussions are taking place currently with local groups in the area. I hope that these discussions will result in the emergence of constructive proposals and I assure the Deputy that I will help in implementing any such proposals.
Is the Minister aware that the second highest rate of emigration in Ireland is from the areas I have mentioned? Is he aware whether during the years the promoting agency have attempted to counteract this position and have SFADCO made the Minister aware of the exceptionally high level of emigration from this area?
I am aware of a particularly difficult situation. I can only tell the Deputy that the matter of reversing a trend of this kind, which is of long standing, and of remedying a situation which is due to a very lengthy period of inadequate effort does not involve a matter of weeks but that it has my serious concern.
Can the Minister give me some indication that he will treat the matter as one of vital national importance especially in view of the fact that people from the western counties are coming together in an effort to reverse the trend to which I have referred? May we hope that emigration will now be arrested in the area?
In regard to the latter part of the question, the hope of the ending of emigration is not the property of any particular party at any time because it is the wish of all parties that emigration would be arrested. There is a problem regarding resource allocation but the case has been made to me that the area referred to by the Deputy is one where the problem of emigration is most acute. If one measures need in that sort of statistical way, I recognise that the problem is very great in the north and west Clare areas and I have indicated this concern to the responsible bodies.
Would the Minister not agree that County Clare, as a whole, is an area that has benefited to the greatest possible extent as a result of the industrial drive we have had during the years? It is at the head of the list in this regard?
I agree but I would refer the Deputy to the question which refers to the western and northern areas of Clare. On the statistics available to me in regard to the specific rural and urban districts in these areas of Clare, the matter is very serious and it is only fair that we should recognise it as such.
The Chair is passing on to Question No. 12.
In concentrating effort on this area, I would ask the Minister not to overlook other areas which have not been developed to the same extent, for instance, Leitrim and the midlands.
Can we take it that the ex-Minister is satisfied in regard to the situation in the areas referred to?
No.
I have allowed the Deputy a lot of latitude on this question. We must pass on now to Question No. 12.