andMr. Kelly asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the plans the IDA have for industrial development in the Foxford-Swinford-Charlestown-Kiltimagh areas of County Mayo.
32.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Industrial Development.
31.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in relation to the IDA job creation programme for the western region, he will include the town of Foxford, now in the Ballina subregion, and the towns of Swinford, Charlestown, Kiltimagh, now in the Castlebar-Westport sub-region, in a new sub-region embracing the four towns, with a specific job target for that region.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
The IDA's recently published industrial plan set a target of 4,400 new jobs in grant-aided industry in the west region between 1977 and 1980 of which 1,300 were envisaged as being created in County Mayo excluding Gaeltacht areas. The target of 1,300 jobs for the county was distributed, for the purposes of the plan, among five separate town groupings. I have been informed by the Industrial Development Authority that arising from discussions on the plan in Castlebar on 8 May 1978 with representatives of various local interests, the IDA has undertaken to reconsider the town groupings in respect of County Mayo and in particular to create a separate target for grant-aided employment for a new town groupings comprised of Foxford-Swinford-Charlestown-Kiltimagh. This will not affect the overall job creation target for the county.
In addition to the foregoing, I can say that an industrial project, which began operations in Swinford in 1977, is expected to provide substantial additional employment in the town by the end of 1978. In Charlestown a small industry project has recently been approved for grant assistance by the IDA and it is expected that details of this project will shortly be announced.
The IDA has land available in Kiltimagh and Swinford which it is actively promoting for industrial development. The authority is also negotiating for the purchase of suitable sites for further industrial development at Charlestown and Foxford.
When does the Minister hope to complete arrangements to purchase the site at Charlestown?
I have not that information available.
Could the Minister tell me the number already approved or taken up out of the 1,300 jobs projected for County Mayo?
I have not that information available.
That seems to be a separate question.
The position in regard to projected job creation in Mayo is that the realistic projection is for 300 jobs over the next three years because 1,000 of the 1,300 have already been approved and 550 have already been taken up. This is the actual position. Consequently, I regard the IDA plan in relation to County Mayo as nothing short of unrealistic and that is being very charitable.
That is a statement, Deputy.
On the contrary, the IDA indicate that the figures are merely favourable targets but are not absolute ceilings for the level of job creation envisaged.
I want to ask the Minister in view of the fact that I believe I saw the Minister, Deputy O'Malley, in the House a couple of hours ago, if he will explain to the House why he is taking the Minister's questions in his absence?
That is not a relevant question.
That is not my business.
It is, because the Minister is missing more often than he is present for Question Time. If he is at a function, he has two Ministers of State to attend functions for him and he should be here answering questions.
They are doing a great job.
Could we be given an explaination as to why the Minister is not here?
Question Time is over.
I am not aware of the individual movements of my Minister. At one stage Deputy Kelly indicated that Ministers of State in the Department were not doing enough work. I am delighted to be doing the work.
Ministers of State are there to attend functions and take that load off the Minister. He should be here to take questions in the House.
He is doing Government work.
Does the Minister of State accept that the Minister is not abroad?
I accept that he is in the Country.
Near at hand?
It is not usual nor indeed in order, as Deputy Kelly well knows, to question the absence of Ministers at Question Time.
The Minister has been absent more often than he has been present when his questions have been asked.
The questions and supplementaries have been answered.
The Minister of State is not responsible for the Department.
I am doing a great job in it.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day.