asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the serious unemployment position in Thurles, County Tipperary; and the urgent steps being taken by his Department to locate industries there to relieve the situation.
Written Answers. - Unemployment in Thurles.
314.
Latest available figures show that the number registered as unemployed at Thurles exchange has decreased by over 300 since April 1977. In addition manufacturing employment in the town has increased by over 250 since January 1977.
In its Industrial Plan 1978—1982, the Industrial Development Authority have set a target to create 500 new manufacturing jobs for the Thurles and Templemore town grouping. The Authority are confident that it will achieve this target.
I am informed by the IDA that despite the fact that industrialists have been brought to Thurles on 11 separate occasions since the beginning of this year, a suitable project for the town has not so far emerged. The Authority are fully alive to the industrial development needs of the town and are actively promoting its 18,750 sq. ft. advance factory and the recently acquired 76 acre site in the town.
As part of its role for the intensive development of small indigenous industry in the mid west, the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited have undertaken an intensive drive in the Thurles area to promote native small industry by encouraging local enterpreneurs. To this end, the company have purchased a 2.4 acre site on which two 2,500 sq. ft. factories have been constructed. One of these factories is already occupied and the other has been allocated for a potential project. In addition, a temporary demountable building on the Thurles industrial estate has been allocated to another potential project.