asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the closure of Gortdrum Mines, County Tipperary, and the effects that this will have on the west Tipperary area, he will declare the area a designated one and apply the higher rate of grant for a minimum period of one year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Mines.
16.
A comprehensive approach to the creation of alternative industrial job opportunities in the west Tipperary area is being adopted by the IDA and SFADCO. This approach includes advance factory facilities, increased industrial promotion efforts for the area and the flexible use of grant powers to attract suitable projects to locate in the area. Accordingly, and in view of the industrial progress already achieved in a number of towns in west Tipperary, I do not consider that designation of the area would be warranted.
Would the Minister clarify the number of towns in the west Tipperary area that have been developed? Would he not follow the precedent created by his predecessor in the Ballingarry area where 300 miners lost their jobs and now, where a further 300 miners are losing their jobs and create a designated area in west Tipperary? In regard to the advance factory facilities which he referred to in his reply nothing has been done to put any sort of factory there. Would the Minister like to assess this position now as against the Ballingarry area which is much less populated than the west Tipperary area?
I think there are a a number of things to say. Firstly, what I just said in regard to designation of another area I would repeat. If Deputies want to put down questions for which they insist on answers I will have to answer them but I would rather not put on the record of the House the details of the arguments against designation. I will talk to the Deputy afterwards and tell him. If he is not satisfied, well and good he can use the mechanism of the House. I suggest to him to let me talk to him and to accept that mechanism is more in the interests of the people that he and I are trying to help than it is to have it discussed publicly.
I should like to remind the Minister that in the designation of the Ballingarry area by the last Government portion of County Kilkenny was also included. The case for designation of the Gortdrum area would appear to be similar.
I accept the similarity but there is a difference in time between the Ballingarry designation and the designation now sought.
Surely it is now more opportune to declare it a designated area than ever before? I am sure my colleague, Deputy O'Malley, would agree with the effects in the east Limerick area. It would be drastic on him and on his constituencies.
If the Deputy is not satisfied with what I asked him to do he will have another day.
The Minister is trying to say that there are arguments why the area should not be designated?
Yes.
Does the Minister feel that the west Tipperary area has been neglected? I feel it has been by the previous Government and by this one. I ask the Minister in view of the fact that 300 people with an average earning of £70 weekly have lost their jobs, to declare the area a designated area for at least one year.
I do not propose to accede to that but I should like to talk with the Deputy when Question Time is over. The Deputy can have another go if he wishes to.
I cannot raise this matter for another six months.
The Deputy can think of some other way. I will facilitate the Deputy if he is not satisfied with the answer.