asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will outline the IDA's proposals to provide a new industry in Cahir, County Tipperary, in view of the recent closure of major industries in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cahir (Tipperary) New Industry.
47.
The Industrial Development Authority in conjunction with the liquidator are actively seeking to identify a suitable takeover project for the factory in Cahir, owned by Weatherglaze, which is now in receivership. Discussions are taking place with a number of promoters aimed at securing there-opening of the factory.
The IDA have two cluster factory units of 3,000 sq. ft. each available and six acres of industrial land in Cahir. These facilities are being actively promoted for suitable small industrial projects.
Cahir is in the catchment area of Clonmel where the Medite project, for the manufacture of fibre board with a job potential of 200, plans to recruit workers during 1983.
Cahir has suffered greatly in the last 12 months. Wilsons closed down last February and over 100 jobs were lost through Weatherglaze closing there recently. There are over 300 people unemployed in the town of Cahir. Could the Minister throw any light on the rumour that a very noted firm, similar to Weatherglaze, are prepared to buy the Cahir plant but cannot do so because the receiver want the Dublin and Cahir plants disposed of together? Will the Minister see if something could be done? The workers in the Cahir factory were shocked at the announcement of the closure of the unit in Cahir. The management of the factory and everyone concerned gave them the highest praise. The output of the factory as compared with the sister factory in Dublin was something of which the workers in Cahir were proud. There was very little absenteeism. Perhaps the Minister would look into the matter? I believe National Aluminium——
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on what he has just said. I have indicated that discussions are taking place on the matter at the moment and anything I might say here would run the risk of not being helpful. I can assure the Deputy that his concern in the matter will be conveyed to the appropriate quarter. He referred to the general employment situation in Cahir. There has been a significant increase in unemployment in the Cahir area. On 2 January 1981 unemployment as per the live register was 312. That rose by 31 December 1981 to 401 and at 31 December 1982 it was 618. Interestingly enough, there has been an increase in employment as well. I am not talking of Cahir specifically but of a group of towns, including Cahir, Cashel, Clonmel, Tipperary and Carrick-on-Suir which I appreciate is a larger area than the Cahir area. The net changes in job numbers, taking losses as against gains, would indicate that there was a net gain in 1980 in the number employed of 205, in 1981 the number was 202 and the provisional estimate for 1982 is 89 persons. What is happening is that the population of young people seeking employment is increasing at a faster rate than the number of jobs being created.