asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having regard to the high percentage of young persons in the population of the country, he will give details of physical planning being undertaken by the Government to provide industry and development generally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Development.
1.
Physical planning as such is not an activity undertaken by my Department.
With regard to the industrial development programme, the Industrial Development Authority and the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. Ltd., engage in the development of industrial estates and the provision of advance factories as part of their activities. This year, the authority plan to complete construction of 20 advance factories, involving a total floor area of 354,654 sq. ft., in various parts of the country and to commence construction of a further six factories with a total floor area of 77,400 sq. ft. In addition at one industrial estate the authority have three factory units, with a floor area of 112,500 sq. ft. under construction and are also constructing nine factories at different locations for specific projects. The total floor area of these nine factories is 637,350 sq.ft.
In the mid-west region, the Shannon Free Airport Development Co. have 20 factories at present under construction involving a floor area of 360,000 sq. ft. and the company also plan to construct a further 15 factories with a total floor area of 200,000 sq. ft. They are also responsible for the development of the town at Shannon Airport, where the company have 174 houses under construction at present.
Would the Minister say what steps he has taken to encourage planning authorities to develop serviced sites for industries? Has the Minister any scheme of grants in mind for such work? Has the Minister any plans for the development of new industrial estates, and if so would he state where?
In regard to local authorities, the contact between the IDA, which is responsible for the development of IDA sites, and the local authorities is a very close one. In addition there are instances where, arising from these contacts or from other initiatives, the local authorities provide serviced industrial sites. In regard to those sites the IDA land bank facilities are available and the range of incentives are available to factories locating on the sites. It is not an area where I have any indication that the current mechanisms are inadequate. It seems to me that the rather flexible mechanism between the IDA and the individual local authorities is working well. Of course, the full range of subsidies, and other aids, are available.
Has the Minister any scheme of grants in mind which will enable local authorities to develop industrial sites?
Some of the matter of this question is not relevant to my Department. The infrastructural matters are the responsibility of the Department of Local Government and not of the Department of Industry and Commerce. In so far as development of that kind is of infrastructure the Department of Local Government is the appropriate one. On the other hand, in circumstances where there is an existing project or where the IDA develops a factory of its own then it is IDA moneys that are used for that infrastructural development.
Does the Minister insist on getting copies of county, city and town development plans by the planning authorities?
I do not scrutinise them personally but I understand those plans are available to the IDA and are available in my Department in any instance where there is need of them.