asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the plans the IDA have for the provision of new industries in County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Industries.
25.
I am informed that in Galway county the Industrial Development Authority have approved three projects, two to be located in Tuam and one in Athenry, which will provide an extra 430 jobs. Another project, for location in Portumna, is at a serious stage of negotiation, while two further industrialists are considering setting up in Loughrea.
An advance factory is under construction at Mountbellew and sites for industrial development have been acquired in Loughrea and Clifden, with a further site in Dunmore being considered at the moment.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the net job target assigned to County Galway in the Industrial Development Authority's regional industrial plans 1973-77 is 2,500. A job survey carried out by the IDA in January, 1974 indicated a net increase during 1973 of 1,145 jobs in manufacturing industry in County Galway.
Does the Minister not think that, in view of the proposals outlined in directive 159 of the EEC, quite a large number of small farmers in County Galway obviously will not fit into the category known as development farmers, and that possibly inside the next few years when this directive is fully in operation, many farmers will find themselves on the labour market? I would like to know from the Minister whether the IDA have any plans to cater for this possibility in the next four or five years.
I think that if the Deputy looks at the rate of job creation he will see, first, that there are IDA plans and, secondly, that they are being implemented. In regard to the regional industrial plan of the IDA stretched over the five years from 1973 to 1977, inclusive, there was a plan for Galway for 2,500 jobs, that is, a rate of 500 jobs a year. In the first year, far from the job creation being 500, it was 1,145; in other words, it was more than twice as high as had been anticipated when the planning was being done. That is a very significant and satisfactory rate of progress. While there are real difficulties in the creation of industrial jobs for people who are leaving the land, if we can go on beating IDA targets by more than 100 per cent year after year then we have the basis for solving the problem.
Could the Minister tell us whether the site at Clifden, County Galway, was acquired by the IDA for industrial purposes, and also if it is intended to acquire a site at Oughterard, County Galway?
These are separate questions.
They relate to IDA plans for the provision of new industry in County Galway.
They are specific questions.
The Minister should know that the town of Oughterard is projected for new industries under the IDA plans.
I have no information about Oughterard and I do not have here the data in regard to the acquiring of the Clifden site. My note simply says that the IDA have acquired a site, but if the Deputy would like to put down a question——
Question No. 26.
Would the Minister agree——
The Chair has made two attempts to pass on. I have allowed the Deputy supplementaries. I am passing on now to the next question.
This is an important matter.
All questions on the Order Paper are important.
Is the Minister saying——
I have called the next question.
The Chair is being very unfair to the western areas.
I have allowed Deputy Hussey and yourself a great deal of latitude.
The Chair is——
The Deputy must not seek to defy the ruling of the Chair.