asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the amount of money spent by the IDA in the mid-west region, including SFADCo, since 1978; the number of factory units completed; where they are located within the region; the number under construction; the number planned; how this compared with the expenditure of the IDA in the south-east; the population of both areas; and, if there is an imbalance, the steps he is prepared to take to rectify the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Industrial Expenditure .
18.
: Details of expenditure by the Industrial Development Authority and Shannon Free Airport Development Company in the mid-west region and by the IDA in the south-east region for the years 1978-1981 are as follows:
|
Mid-West |
South-East |
|
|
£ million |
£ million |
|
|
1978 |
10.37 |
11.65 |
|
1979 |
15.40 |
18.72 |
|
1980 |
25.55 |
24.72 |
|
1981 |
35.64 |
32.01 |
Data for 1982 will be contained in the 1982 annual reports to be published this year and which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The IDA annual reports give particulars of the IDA's factory construction programme in each of the years 1978-1981. A summary of SFADCo's construction programme for the same period is contained in SFADCo's annual report for 1981.
Three IDA advance factories and 34 SFADCo small industry units are under construction in the mid-west region at present. Details of the 1983 building programme have not yet been announced. The population of the mid-west region was 308,212 in 1981 and 374,575 in the south-east region.
The IDA are committed to the development of industry in all parts of Ireland and distribute their resources in accordance with the needs of each area. Expenditure may vary widely from year to year for various reasons. There may be distortions in specific years due to large payments in respect of individual projects in a particular area.
I would add that the mid-west and south-east regions were amongst the three regions which exceeded the first-time job targets set for them in the IDA's Industrial Plan 1978-82.
: The Minister has given figures regarding money spent by the IDA for a number of years. Will he give the targeted expenditure for the two areas in respect of 1983?
: I have not that information available but I will be glad to communicate with the Deputy on the matter.