Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 May 1983

Vol. 342 No. 8

Return to Writ: Donegal South West. - Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited (Amendment) Bill, 1983: Second Stage (Resumed).

Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Roimh sos don Ión bhí mé ag déanamh tagartha don dul chun cinn atá déanta ag Comhlacht Forbartha Aerfort na Sionna. Ba chóir go dtugaimid anseo i nDáil Éireann ócáid dhíospóireacht an Bhille seo chun comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an comhlacht stáit seo as ucht an dea-obair atá déanta acu ó bunaíodh an Stáit seo chun forbairt aerfort na Sionna a chur chun cinn agus chun tionscail a bhunú. I ndeich mbliana nó mar sin tá cumhachtaí ag an gcomhlacht seo chun tionscail a bhunú ar fud réigiún an mheániarthair.

I want to draw the Minister's attention to what is, perhaps, an inadvertent omission from his opening speech. He referred to the main headings of expenditure as being land acquisition, factory construction and main infrasture work in Shannon town and said that a small proportion of share capital is also expended on aviation-related tourism projects of a capital nature. I should like him to give us a breakdown of these allocations and the apportionment of the money now being provided under the various headings. For example, how much is being provided for new housing? Could the Minister give us a breakdown of the expenditure and the estimated expenditure under the different headings to which he referred. This is important in relation to a comprehensive development programme of this kind which involves housing, the acquisition of land, factory construction and other infrastructural work. The Minister also referred to the fact that a small proportion of share capital is expended on aviation-related tourism projects of a capital nature. The House should have some information as to what precisely is meant by expenditure on aviation-related tourism projects of a capital nature. That is a very broadly based concept. Is it for hotels and so forth or is it for the further development of the castles or what is it?

The Minister refers to community building and the provision of house loans under the company's tenant purchase scheme. If possible we would like to have further information on this.

Before lunch I was speaking in a general way about the role of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company. I said it was a unique approach to regional development. SFADCo is unlike any other State company in this country or perhaps in any country because it is accountable to several different Government Departments and several different Ministers. The Minister for Transport has a function in relation to the aviation aspect of development at Shannon. The Minister for Industry and Energy has a function. The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism has a function, and of course the Minister for the Environment has a function viz-à-vis the development of Shannon town and so on. This accountability to different Departments and different Ministers raises problems. I can understand a multi-purpose State body which has functions which impinge on different Departments but perhaps at this stage it might be appropriate to review the role and the functions of SFADCo as a regional development organisation. Initially its function was to generate traffic through the airport. Then the industrial estate was established. In the 1960s the late Donagh O'Malley and I strongly advocated the extension of the role of SFADCo to include the mid-west region. That was subsequently done. More recently the area under the jurisdiction of SFADCo was extended to include south and west Offaly.

The Shannon Free Airport Development Company has had remarkable success. Its pioneering work in the field of regional development, particularly in regard to aviation-related activity, has been very successful. It has been very successful in tourism — the development of the castle tours and so on. It has been very successful in relation to industrial development, particularly the small industries programme for which it was assigned special responsibility in 1978.

There is another aspect of the work of SFADCo which I regret is not referred to in the Minister's brief. It is an area that SFADCo have begun to look at over the last couple of years and in which they are beginning to play a more active part. That is the field of local community development. This is a very important dimension in relation to regional development.

I was very pleased to learn recently that SFADCo now have one senior executive who has been assigned special responsibility for the promotion of community development co-operatives and for the encouragement of community development work. I am aware that in the Slieve Phelim area, which is in the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's constituency, there is a local community development co-operative, and some years ago, in order to assist this new co-operative in its early stages, SFADCo made a managerial grant available which enabled the co-operative in this mountainous, underdeveloped area to appoint a full-time manager. His salary and the management expenses were paid for by SFADCo.

I understand that a similar co-operative at Anglesborough on the Cork-Limerick border is now being assisted as well and more recently a very exciting new approach to the problem of massive unemployment in urban areas has been initiated in the South Hill area of Limerick assisted by SFADCo. The intention is to operate a training programme for young people. South Hill has a 51 per cent unemployment rate. One out of every two people under 25 years is unemployed there. SFADCo have gone in there in co-operation with the local development or community organisation and are engaged in a programme of training which we hope will lead to the formation of a community or a workers' co-operative. This is an area with exciting possibilities. I understand that SFADCo recently assigned one of their executives to monitor this type of development.

There is vast scope for this type of work throughout the country. It has been very successful in the Gaeltacht regions. I suggest to the Minister that the Government should take a very careful look at this and that SFADCo should be given the maximum assistance to encourage the formation of local community co-operatives, particularly co-operatives set up by young people who have completed AnCO training courses. There is an experiment being launched in conjunction with the comprehensive school at Shannon. Selected young people will be put through a special course of training and at the end of it is hoped they will set up a co-operatively organised industry. I make no apology for emphasising the importance of community co-operatives, the importance of encouraging young people who have second or third level education and have undergone an AnCO training course. They should be encouraged to set up co-operatives and do their own thing. I am very pleased that SFADCo are going into this area. Their work and their involvement in community development is very important. I am very conscious of this because of my experience in the Gaeltacht where I have seen the results of community development co-operatives. Properly organised co-operatives and properly managed co-operatives can create employment and generate jobs. It is the formation really of an economic and social structure in a particular area. Now west Clare is very similar to the Gaeltacht areas in which co-operatives are working very successfully and the Minister should encourage SFADCo to form co-operatives in both west Clare and north-west Clare. There could be development in forestry, fisheries, tourism and agriculture. We have before us the dreadful spectre of growing unemployment and a lack of jobs and we must use our imagination and all our energies in finding a solution to this terrible problem. There is in every community latent talent only waiting to be tapped and the potential is there to create jobs if there is proper organisation and proper development. What is really important is indigenous development and this is the kind of development that should be encouraged.

SFADCo had been responsible for the development of industry in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary with an extension to west Offaly. One of the greatest potentials and one of our greatest national assets is the Shannon Estuary. The potential for development there is paramount. The area of jurisdiction of SFADCo should now be extended to embrace north Kerry because north Kerry forms part of the Shannon Estuary. If we are to survive as a nation we must do everything we possibly can to ensure that survival. Numerous reports have been formulated and all that is necessary now is the formulation and implementation of a proper development and marketing programme designed to achieve the potential that lies in the Shannon Estuary. SFADCo has participated in these reports. More attention should be paid now to community development work and SFADCo should be given greater scope and greater flexibility in the development potential of the Shannon Estuary.

The Minister referred to a development in which SFADCo had played a very important role, namely, the Innovation Centre and the National Micro-electronics Application Centre. SFADCo work in close liaison with the National Institute of Higher Education in Limerick. There has been a continuous interplay between these bodies. The need for a close liaison between technology and industrial development is beginning to be recognised. May I express publicly my disappointment and the disappointment of everyone in the mid-west at the postponement of the establishment of the IRS Microelectronics Test Centre at Plassey, Limerick. This is a very important element from the point of view of the development of high technological industry in the mid-west. We are very fortunate in that we have succeeded in attracting a tremendous amount of sophisticated high technology industry to the mid-west region. A site has been acquired for the Microelectronics Test Centre but the plan has now been deferred by the Government. I hope it will be possible next year to give the green light for this very important service being provided by the electronics industry.

I recall, in 1978, when the then Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Deputy O'Malley, came into this House and, on a Bill similar to this one, announced that SFADCo had been given a new directive to confine their activities almost exclusively to the development of small industry and the IDA was given responsibility for large-scale industry. I was completely opposed to it at the time. Despite the excellent progress that has been made by the small industries programme I still believe that was a major mistake at that time. When SFADCo had complete responsibility for industrial development in the mid-west region through an agency arrangement with the IDA, they were highly successful. One thinks immediately of the major industries in that region, Syntex at Clarecastle, Burlington Industries (Ireland) Limited, Analog Devices BV and a whole lot of other industries attracted to the region. I would prefer to see SFADCo still having overall industrial development responsibility for the mid-west region. I acknowledge that the small industries programme has been very successful. As the Minister said in the course of his introductory remarks:

The number of persons employed in small industry increased from 3,480 to 4,800 and the company expects that by the end of 1987 7,000 people will be in full-time employment in small firms in the region. The actual number of sustainable jobs created is the true test of SFADCo's endeavours. Therefore it is satisfactory to report that nearly 2,000 new jobs have actually been created and sustained.

The Minister goes on to refer to something of which we are already aware:

On the Shannon Industrial Estate total employment at 31 December 1982 was at 4,300, which was slightly down — 6 per cent — on the 1981 level.

There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that small and medium-sized industries have a vital role to play in job creation. Because SFADCo were able to concentrate on this aspect of industrial development they have acquired a lot of expertise and a lot of information in the course of establishment of these small projects. Indeed perhaps the lessons learned could be applied in extending the development of small industries throughout the country.

Of course SFADCo still have responsibility for the Shannon Industrial Estate. Despite the fact that there has been a slight fall in the number of jobs, bearing in mind the industrial recession throughout the western world, the Shannon Industrial Estate appears to have survived reasonably well. It would have been too much to have expected that there would be no job losses. I am particularly pleased that an industry sited there — which was the subject of an enormous amount of controversy a year ago — the bus-building company, Bombardier (Ireland) Ltd. is now on the verge of a major breakthrough on the export market. I understand that a prototype bus is on trial in one country and that negotiations are well advanced for a major export order to a European country. My colleague, Deputy Prendergast, has been very concerned at some adverse publicity this company has received. It is very important, particularly during a recession, that problems which industries encounter should not be magnified by the media. It is important that the media remember that they have a very serious responsibility in situations like that. I congratulate the management and staff of Bombardier on the manner in which apparently they overcame the worst difficulties and problems they encountered. I sincerely hope the company will effect the desired breakthrough into the export market resulting in the assured future of the company and their employees.

Again I congratulate SFADCo on their progress to date. In particular I congratulate them on the manner in which they have succeeded in the very wide area of responsibility assigned to them. I want to direct the Minister's attention to the need to give SFADCo maximum encouragement in the type of community development work in which they are engaged, for example, in their pilot projects at Slieve Phelim near Nenagh, at Anglesborough and South Hill. I hope the Government will encourage SFADCo to formulate and implement comprehensive development programmes in areas like West Clare, North Clare and other under-developed areas throughout the mid-west region.

(Clare): I welcome this Bill which provides further finance for the Shannon Free Airport Development Company. Of all the State or semi-State bodies it can be truly said that any moneys made available to SFADCo to date have been really well spent for the benefit of the region. They have been in existence for well over 20 years now and their achievements have been outstanding. To really appreciate what has happened in that part of the country one would want to remember what was there before the airport got under way. It was just a big open marsh of slob lands, flooded for part of the year which was eventually drained with pick and shovel; there was no machinery utilised. Then the airport came into being. That saw the beginning of development in our country which spilled over into the region and the west generally. It all began with the transatlantic airport. The airport developed, after which the industrial estate and SFADCo came into being. The industrial estate grew over the years to the extent that they now employ well over 4,000 people. Indeed it is very heartening to realise that they had a net loss of some £200 in 1982, in this period of deep recession throughout the western world, particularly when compared with the unhappy experiences of other areas during the same period. They have worked hard to maintain employment, by creating new jobs, having as few redundancies as possible, and have done so with success.

After the establishment of the industrial estate we saw the beginning of the new town which commenced with the building of a few flat complexes by SFADCo from which developed the town, planned and constructed under the auspices of SFADCo. That town now has a population of something in the region of 9,000 and is the second largest town in county Clare, with apologies to Deputy Taylor-Quinn from Kilrush. In recent years it has become the second largest town in the county and has developed more and more a community spirit in recent years. The advent of the town commissioners, which it was my privilege to grant when Minister for the Environment, has proved a great success and played a leading role in knitting together the community there, giving them a real community spirit.

Unlike other towns where families have been established for generations, the population of Shannon is drawn from many parts of the country and from abroad and it took a while for them to identify as a community on their own. There is no better way to assist this process than to have local representatives who can be elected at each local election. It is the right of the elected representatives to speak for the people who elect them, as it is the right of every public representative to make representations for his constituents, despite what other people might think. That is built in to the whole democratic system. However, I do not want to seem to be selling myself.

The only decentralisation in recent years, since that to Mayo and Athlone, has been to Shannon town and this is very much appreciated. Part of the registration unit of the Department of the Environment is now located there and this has added further to the importance of the town in the eyes of the community.

During the period of the setting up of the town commissioners, which is a longer process than some people realise, no people could have been more co-operative and helpful than SFADCo. They assisted in every way possible and they co-operate with the town commissioners at all times on any problems.

SFADCo have played a major role in the development of the mid-west. They had a great supporter in the former Minister for Industry and Commerce, the late Seán Lemass, who believed in the whole concept and did not hesitate to help them financially. There is one other man who deserves mention in regard to the airport development and SFADCo. He is Brendan O'Regan, who is now semi-retired. He was at first head of sales and catering in the airport and he achieved tremendous success. He was also the first chairman of the Shannon development company and retained that post until four or five years ago. He had such a creative and progressive mind that his chairmanship made a great difference to the entire region. I hope the work and creativeness of this man are appreciated. Apart from industry, the castle tours were also his brainchild and SFADCo stepped in to develop them. These projects are now operating very successfully and it should be remembered that Brendan O'Regan was the principal driving force behind them.

In 1978 SFADCo were given the responsibility for small industries by my colleague, Deputy Desmond O'Malley. The decision was criticised at the time, not only by Deputy O'Donnell but also by a number of others. SFADCo have overcome all criticism due to their tremendous success in promoting small industries in such a short time. They retained responsibility for development in the industrial zone at Shannon and this responsibility was not given to the IDA. Deputy Carey said today that the IDA had obtained no further industry for Ennis since that development in 1978. That is not quite correct because I launched one project, Unitrode Ireland Limited, under the auspices of the IDA, which is now flourishing in Ennis.

During the course of their development of small industries SFADCo have introduced many innovations, ventures and ideas and put them into practice. Mention has been made of joint ventures which serve to improve technology and marketing, as well as the new matchmaker service. This is not to be confused with Lisdoonvarna; it is a SFADCo innovation for the promotion or improvement of industry in the mid-west region.

(Clare): This service has played a very important role in connection with import substitution, which I understand has amounted to £6 million. This is an appreciable sum. They give advice to smaller industries on serving large industries and these smaller industries are now supplying components which were formerly imported.

SFADCo have also initiated a task force and community programmes to assist people who have ideas for industries to put them into practice. The service is designed to assist local communities to help themselves and it is becoming effective.

They have also a new concept with regard to work space. The idea is to provide common services, such as secretarial services, for several small units using one large factory, thus cutting down costs.

The Shannon Estuary has also been mentioned. There are difficulties in the coming into being of an estuary authority. Until such an authority is set up, SFADCo could be enabled to play a greater role. I am sure the IDA would not object. They were involved in the Alcan Project and the ESB are involved at Moneypoint. They are usually highly efficient. A greater role for SFADCo in small or large industries along the estuary would be beneficial.

Several speakers have said that the sand bar off Loop Head will have to be removed. It is not necessary in order to develop the Shannon Estuary to involve ourselves in the large expenditure that would be needed to remove it. At the moment the estuary can take bulk carriers of 300,000 tonnes without the removal of the sand bar. If it were removed it could take 500,000 tonne bulk carriers but that is not necessary in order to develop industry. A few years ago there was no industrialisation along the north and south banks of the Shannon other than the ESB station at Tarbert. Now there are two major heavy industries, Alcan and the ESB station at Moneypoint. The estuary has greater potential than any natural waterway in Western Europe and this is widely accepted. It is high time that further industrialisation be carried out. It could be a major distribution port because of the use of the bulk carriers, for redistribution throughout Western Europe. That would be feasible even with 300,000-tonne carriers. Some organisation should be asked to develop this concept and there is no better organisation than SFADCo because their experience and achievements can be readily appreciated. They should have some role with regard to development of the Shannon Estuary. That fine waterway is awaiting development and we must be glad that something has happened in this area.

Other speakers have referred to the achievements of SFADCo with regard to small industries. What they have done is well known to the House and is appreciated. When money was made available to them it was used in a proper way. I do not wish to insult any other region but it must be said that because of the efforts of SFADCo in particular, the mid-west region is more developed economically than any other region. I hope the development will continue.

I welcome the Bill. I am pleased that the Minister of State has seen fit to allocate money to the mid-west region. I should like to thank him and to congratulate him for the interest and initiative he has shown in this area. It is vital to the region that this action should continue in the future. He has suggested an increase of about £40 million in the taking up of shares, a £20 million increase in the amount of grants and a £3 million increase in the aggregate advances that may be made by the Minister for Finance to the company. This is a substantial amount of money but it will provide the necessary finance needed for the expansion and development of the region.

The work of SFADCo in the past has been tremendous and they must be complimented. The dedication and skill they have used in promoting the region has been beyond comparison with any other semi-State company. Initially they had the responsibility of getting Shannon off the ground from the point of view of industry and also of forming a community at Shannon and providing housing for the people involved. Now Shannon has the highest rate of private house occupancy in the country, with a total of 58 per cent of the people owning their own homes. Perhaps the time has come for SFADCo to hand over their housing responsibility to Clare County Council and to concentrate on the industrial development of Shannon and the mid-west region. To date they have done an exceptionally good job.

The time has come when we have to realise that the entire south coast from Loop Head to Limerick city is Clare territory and there will be major development in that area in the next 15 or 20 years. As Deputy Barrett has pointed out, there have been two major heavy industries in the region in the past few years, one at Moneypoint and the other at Aughinish. If that type of development is to continue and to be monitored in a professional and skilled manner we need someone to take responsibility for it and there is no better organisation than SFADCo in conjunction with Clare County Council and the county development team. I hope the Minister will take this into account. SFADCo have created a community at Shannon and last year the first elections for town commissioners were held. I think that Clare County Council should take responsibility for housing and allow SFADCo to concentrate on the industrial area.

Many speakers mentioned the setting up of an estuarial authority at Shannon. I have spoken on this matter on the Transport Estimate. It is vital to the development of the region that such an authority be established. I hope that the Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy will do everything to assist the Minister for Transport to ensure that this is done. The Kilrush harbour area should be extended to include the area to Moneypoint and it should be under the jurisdiction of the Kilrush harbour authority before further negotiations proceed regarding an estuarial authority. I am sure Deputy Barrett agrees with me. The Shannon runs along lands in Clare and if we have an estuarial authority we would want to be in a very strong position. Today Deputy Prendergast said it was vital to have an estuarial authority. The people in Clare are not prepared in future to continue to accept a situation where Limerick would have a monopoly in Clare and, as a public representative for Clare, I should like to put that on record. I was interested to note Deputy Barrett's comments regarding the sand bar across Loop Head. I am not as knowledgeable as was the Deputy about the tonnage of bulk carriers but I was interested to hear his remarks. I ask the Minister to take note of them.

We have been very fortunate in the personnel who have been involved in SFADCo during the years. Initially Brendan O'Regan got things off to a flying start and SFADCo have been lucky in the personnel who followed him. Recently I was pleased that the Minister for Industry and Energy had reappointed Frank McCabe as chairman of SFADCo. It is nationally and internationally recognised that he has one of the finest brains in this country or indeed in Europe and America. He is a well-known international industrialist and we are fortunate to have him chairing SFADCo. I welcome his appointment by the Minister.

With regard to housing it has often been difficult for Clare County Council to provide houses in the outlying regions particularly in the rural villages. Father Harry Bohan and SFADCo are to be complimented for the great development which has taken place right through County Clare. It is a remarkable project which has been very successful and is one which many other counties could copy. It has made it possible for young couples to get their own houses and become owners of them at much lower cost than the ordinary market. This is to be highly commended.

It is not usual, as other speakers said, to compliment people on the Opposition benches but Deputy Dessie O'Malley deserves praise for the initiative he took in 1978 by giving SFADCo the responsibility for initiating small industries in the mid-west. That project has proved remarkably successful. In most cases the people involved have been local people, from Counties Clare, Tipperary and Limerick. They started up small industries, employed a few people and gradually expanded. The Minister's speech today highlights the degree of success of this. In 1978 there were 300 small firms in the mid-west and by December 1982 there were 650 and, an increase of nearly 2,000 jobs in small industries. That is very vital, particularly to rural scattered areas. Everybody concerned with this must be complimented for its success.

The Minister and SFADCo should do everything possible to ensure the continued growth and expansion of that particular area. There is room for progress in areas that as yet have been relatively untapped. We are basically an agricultural community in the mid-west. We have not a very extensive food processing industry but at the same time we find ourselves importing a lot of food. SFADCo could seriously examine the potential in the food processing industry right around all the small towns and villages of the mid-west region. Deputy Prendergast mentioned this when he spoke this morning and I concur with him. I ask the Minister and SFADCo to please examine this area soon because there is a real potential there.

An attempt has been made at involving more craft workers in small industries. This has been successful, but there is room for far greater expansion. Those type of industries can be located in the most remote parts of the region and can be successfully operated from those areas. We need to keep people in rural areas rather than have them migrate to Dublin, Limerick, Cork or overseas or sit at home unemployed. This is a sad situation for far too many.

There is a vast area of water right around the coast of Clare. This has not been successfully tapped to date. There is a large fishing population in that area that we have not successfully made use of over the years. I believe the fishing industry and the fish processing industry could be developed because we have the facilities in Clare. There are quite a number of small harbours around the coast like Carrigaholt, Doonbeg, Doolin, Liscannor and many other places. This should be seriously considered in relation to small industries.

I find that people in the Shannon region are not happy about Sisk having a monopoly in relation to the leasing of property in the Shannon town centre. They find it is difficult to lease premises. A further complication often is that somebody who wishes to set up a small shop in the other areas around Shannon finds it difficult to get planning permission. Clare County Council have been willing to give planning permission in many cases for shops in the areas around the town but when it came to SFADCo they were reluctant to allow that permission to be given. There is a conflict of interest there and many feel there is not free competition. This should be examined because competition makes good business. I would not like to think that any particular group would have a monopoly in an area and could maintain that monopoly. If we are living in a democratic system there should be the opportunity for competition. I hope to see the people of Shannon given that opportunity in the future.

The remarkable success of Shannon Airport is to be highly complimented. The personnel in Aer Rianta have done a tremendous job. Even last year, when world air traffic was substantially reduced, Shannon had an overall increase of 11 per cent. There was a throughput of over one million passengers in Shannon. That was a very significant growth considering the economic climate. It was due principally to transit passengers where there was an increase of 25 per cent. Shannon is seen as a North Atlantic gateway. Shannon will have to continue to be the North Atlantic gateway to Europe as well as to Ireland. I urge the Minister to do everything possible to ensure that continues. I know that various airlines are making an attempt to overfly Shannon but this cannot be allowed to happen because the future success or failure of Shannon will depend on maintaining the North Atlantic routes and Shannon as the first stop when they get to Ireland.

The people in the region around Shannon appreciate the interest the Minister has shown. We hope he will continue to show that interest by co-operating in every way with SFADCo and giving them the necessary money and incentives to go ahead with the type of development necessary in that region. It is a new region for industrial development and has a very young population. He need only go to the Minister for Education to find out all the proposed new schools in the region and he will know exactly the extensive young population there is in the region and the number of jobs that will be needed in the future. A new comprehensive school is to be built shortly in Shannon. Sixmilebridge have applied for a college to be built there. Extensions continue to be built to the schools in Ennis. There will be a very real necessity around County Clare for a lot of new jobs in the future. I believe we can be successful, with the help of SFADCo, in producing those new jobs. I look forward to the Minister's co-operation.

There has been unreserved praise by all of the speakers, mainly from the constituencies surrounding the area, for this Bill. It is very seldom that any subsidised company or State body deserve such unreserved praise on close examination. I believe that in this instance the praise is well deserved. I am probably the only speaker from outside the area and certainly the only one from Dublin who has contributed. One might ask why I should bother speaking on this Bill. There are obvious and simple reasons, but the main one is because this is an area of success. It is a self-sufficient region and, contrary to the trend in recent years of everything coming from Dublin, it is delightful to see initiative from a different part of the country without dependence on so-called Dublin expertise.

Another reason for my interest is because of the development of high technology in the region and particularly that associated with the NIHE. In many ways Ireland was fortunate that the Industrial Revolution passed it by to a large extent. With advances in communication we can now reach every country in the world. There is no better placed region than Shannon to take advantage of the high technology. Due to the foresight shown in the educational area, people were prepared for the advent of technology. Shannon with its airport is a gateway to the world and is well situated to take advantage of markets in America, the Far East and other places. It is on an international flying route and so it is convenient for business people to operate from that region. It has succeeded in attracting research and development to the area from different parts of the world. People have come from America and Europe and set up there. The courses NIHE are providing for students and the opportunities provided for training in business and research have been tremendously successful.

I am disappointed at the short notice Deputies were given in relation to the Bill. This happens in the case of most Bills. One only gets short notice about them. Not many people touched on the costs involved. If I have any criticism of the Minister's speech it is that there are too many generalities in it. It appears to be the general form that Ministers ask for large sums of money without making any real effort to justify the amounts. I am not saying the amounts involved in this case are not justified. The Minister is asking for grants, subscriptions and advances. He wants an increase from £80 million to £120 million in the aggregate of the amounts the Minister for Finance may subscribe in the taking up of shares in the company. As regards subscriptions he is talking about £40 million to £60 million of grants which may be made to the company. As regards advances, he is talking about £22 million to £25 million which may be made by the Minister for Finance to the company. It is just giving him authority to go up to that amount.

If we had more notice of the Bill we would have been able to look at the performance of SFADCo. Most Deputies have assumed — perhaps from their local knowledge — that it is a rip-roaring success. We should not assume that the amounts of money asked for, probably prepared by civil servants who are very expert, should be automatically given. For those of us who handle £13,800 in our wage packets a year — I know the media thinks it is outrageously high — to be throwing around hundreds of millions of pounds and lightly passing them through the House is not very responsible. I know accounts are published, but when Bills of this nature come before the House Deputies should be given an opportunity to examine them. I am not saying they would necessarily change them, but this is where legislation emanates from. It is important that we know what the money is for and how it will be spent. We should also know how it was spent in the past, given the stringent times in which we live.

As regards SFADCo, it is no harm to repeat that it was a very successful venture from the beginning. Other Deputies referred to its pioneering days and how it managed to last through. Now we are in the age of high technology and it is good that it has been able to survive on its own and make such a great contribution to the rest of the country. I should like to see much of their work extended throughout the country.

I do not know how the figures which are in the Bill were arrived at. I am sure they were not picked from the sky, but we are left with little scope for debate when we do not know what the money will be spent on. There are too many generalities in the Minister's speech. Even the future of SFADCo and the Shannon area is dealt with in general terms. The Minister spoke about 20 years hence. As there will be no commitment to pass money this year and next year because of the state of the economy, I do not know if there is any point in talking about 20 years hence. However, I am glad that thought is being given to the future and to the likelihood of change in industry. I was glad to see a report on the types of industry that exist in the area. I should like to see more information on the type and amounts of grants made, the people who received them, how the money has been spent and how successful companies which were awarded grants have been. Early in his speech the Minister said:

It is, therefore, necessary that these statutory limits be now increased to enable the company to continue its operations.

No reason is given as to why it is necessary. He merely said that it is necessary to do so. He said also:

Expenditure by the company under the heading of share capital, grant-in-aid and repayable advances to 30 April 1983 are as follows: Share Capital, £77.3 million; Grant-in-Aid, £38.5 million; Repayable Advances, £19.1 million.

It is extraordinary to talk about this kind of money in such general terms without giving us enough detail to discuss the merits and demerits of the amount. The only reason given is that on the basis of estimates of expenditure available, the proposed new limits will be sufficient until 1987. Should we not have these so that we can examine them? We are talking in global terms about a successful operation. I doubt if any of the Deputies from the area would be crazy enough to criticise this Bill. This begs the question, is it success at any price or is there a price on the success of this operation? I have mentioned already what is relevant here, that we are inclined, without a very close examination of them, to take many of our agencies as being successful. This refers even to institutions like the IDA and CTT. Some of them have grown so big that they have their own public relations departments and they do a very good job in selling themselves to us. It is time for a very critical examination of these institutions and of the one we are discussing so that they do not become lax and will continue to be as successful as they have been in the past. It is important that we do not just take them for granted but that we keep them on their toes. Bodies such as SFADCo, the IDA and CTT have enormous resources at their disposal. They have large teams of sales people selling here and practically all over the world.

However, I wonder is it not better to enable small companies and their personnel sometimes to go on these selling trips abroad. For example, it would be very interesting to know how much money is made available and how much money is spent by the marketing and sales of such institutions. Very often small companies such as we are talking about whose operations are being assisted by the innovation centre cannot finance their sales people to go abroad to sell their product. In my estimation nobody is better able to sell a product than the people who know most about it, the people who make it, who very often depend on the good offices of somebody from one of these institutions to do the work for them. More often than not they fail, and that is the reason they fail. That applies not only to their products and services but to the research and development contracts with foreign government companies. The EEC grants applicable must be obtained through the National Board of Science and Technology. People who try to win research and development contracts through the EEC must observe this ridiculous code whereby the person who is doing the research and development cannot present his own case to the EEC; it must be presented by somebody from the NBST on the person's behalf. Such people start off at a distinct disadvantage.

In the development of client and local community relations SFADCo require a number of years before they can produce worthwhile and lasting results. However, they have made enormous strides in this area in a very few years. I would like to see the operations of a pilot scheme that has been set up in the Shannon area expanded throughout the country. Operations such as those of the innovation centre should be expanded from the Limerick area throughout the country. At present the centre takes in the mid-west region and parts of Offaly. Anybody who has worked with it has had 100 per cent co-operation from the personnel there. They are easy to deal with, mainly because they started off in a small way themselves dealing with small companies. They understand indigenous business, the small businessman and the graduate engineer who is trying to get out on his own, whereas the IDA themselves operate on a far bigger scale. The two should be kept separate. If possible this institution should not be diluted. I would hate to see interference with it from the Dublin area. I am glad the money is being made available for the expansion. I know that the accounts are produced every year and are there to be seen. I hope that the operations of the centre will increase at a greater rate although the danger in that is that some of the infrastructure that has been slowly built up might be destroyed.

SFADCo were set up to deal with the development of small indigenous industry, air traffic and the industrial estates. I intend to confine my remarks to small indigenous industry and to small businesses, because there is enormous potential for small businesses and if they are promoted, they will play a very big part in the recovery of our economy.

The approach which this company have adopted has very successfully manipulated the small business sector and has shown in a few short years the success rate that can be achieved. That is why it should be encouraged to expand and to take on other regions, and I hope the Minister will do that.

I should like to applaud the Minister's approach when he spoke about the national role that we must not lose sight of. He said this intensive experimental role requires resources and expertise over and above that needed in solely direct promotional work. Perhaps this is what the Minister has in mind, and I hope that is so. I welcome the Bill and look forward to the study which is being undertaken in the Shannon area. I hope it will be published soon and that the House will be kept informed of the operations in this region.

It is right that I should speak briefly on this Bill because, from the discussions so far, one would think that North Tipperary was not included in the mid-west region. There was talk about whether Clare or Limerick owned the Shannon and whether the estuarial responsibilities should lie in Kilrush or Limerick. The Shannon flows through North Tipperary, which I consider to be one of the finest beauty spots in the country, even taking Killarney into account.

I welcome the Bill and I compliment the Minister on increasing the capital from £80 million to £120 million. As a public representative, I have seen what SFADCo have done in the region. It started with the transformation of the slob lands of Rineanna into Shannon Airport, which is now our major international airport. SFADCo have been involved in many aspects of Irish life, including industry and tourism. We have considerable development in North Tipperary in the RHO housing schemes. I compliment Fr. Harry Bohan and the people supporting him in their efforts to provide sites and houses for people who would not normally be housed by local authorities. Many schemes in North Tipperary have considerably improved the environment and have provided services and houses for people who are working in Limerick or Nenagh but who prefer to live on the lakeside of Lough Derg.

They have even moved as far as Longford.

They have moved even further afield. Emphasis was laid on the role which SFADCo can play in the recession. With regard to small industry and support for local entrepreneurs, the North Tipperary officer, Mr. Tomás Ó Domhnaill, has made extensive efforts to try to foster enthusiasm among local industrialists to avail of the services and facilities that are in SFADCo. I should like to compliment him on the many successful efforts he has made in North Tipperary. Emphasis was laid on the need for SFADCo, in conjunction with the IDA, to play a major role in the development of food processing. While Limerick and Clare may claim the Shannon, we in North Tipperary claim we have the natural resources in land and livestock to provide resources for the development of food processing. We have a factory run by Erin Foods in Thurles and this is an area where SFADCo and the IDA could ensure that the natural resources of North Tipperary are utilised to the benefit of the region and also to the benefit of employment in the area. In the last 12 months we have suffered traumatic effects from the closure of a major industry. Deputy Daly referred to the loss of 100 jobs in a small town. Mogul in Nenagh lost 600 jobs and that compares with the loss of anything up to 15,000 jobs in Dublin. If such an industry had closed in the city, the workers would have been marching.

I know that SFADCo appreciates the needs of industrial development in North Tipperary and I appeal to the Minister to ensure everything possible is done to assist small and medium sized industries to come to this area. At present in the Nenagh Labour Exchange there are about 1,100 people registered as unemployed. This has a very serious effect on many people and also on the commercial life of the town.

It has been often said that North Tipperary is the poor relation of the region and at times I readily agree with that. The core of the region seems to be Limerick, Shannon and Ennis and the periphery is the major part of North Tipperary. Now that the region has been extended as far as Offaly, I hope the many pleas which have been made on behalf of North Tipperary by the various commercial bodies, such as the Chamber of Commerce and Trades Council, will not be overlooked. I appeal to the Minister to see that everything possible is done to lighten the very serious unemployment situation in my constituency and to ensure that the many public bodies who for years have stated that we are the poor relation will reaffirm the interest of SFADCo and the IDA in the region.

As our spokesman and other speakers on this side of the House have done, I welcome this Bill for what it is doing for the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited in the taking up of shares, in the increase in the aggregate amount of grants, in the increase of £3 million in the aggregate amount of advances which may be made, and also in that it is giving statutory authority for SFADCo in Offaly west and south.

It is in that connection that I should like to reiterate points some people made including the Acting Chairman when he was speaking. This company have set a headline which might usefully be followed elsewhere. Some speakers referred to the possibility of a Derry-Donegal company for development in that area. I should like to widen that suggestion and ask the House and the Minister to consider the whole Border situation as of now. Such a development company, with a brief for the whole Border area, with the exact same terms of reference and powers, could be a very powerful force for developing that area which has specific problems as of now.

We know the political problem of a Border which was artifically created and should never have been there. This is not the place or the time to comment at any length on that. It was not there by the will of any section of the Irish people when it was set up at least. It is on the economic aspects that I should like to comment. SFADCo are an engine for economic advancement. The encomia we heard in the House today are well deserved by that company. At the moment we have excise problems. We have VAT problems. We have punt problems. We have decentralisation problems.

Ní maith liom cur isteach ach deirtear liom——

Fuair tú leid ó oifigeach. Tá an ceart agat cur isteach ach ní cóir do oifigeach é sin a dhéanamh.

Acting Chairman

——gur cóir cloí le téarmaí an Bhille seo.

Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil an ceart sin aige.

Acting Chairman

Deirtear liom go ndearna mé faillí ansin. It was pointed out to me that we should remain on the Bill which deals with SFADCo alone. In all fairness I cannot allow people to wander away from it, however meritorious and worthy their statements may be.

SFADCo also earned praise in this House today for their work in the development of certain tourism ventures. In particular, a reference was made by the Acting Chairman to the development of the castle industry in the Clare and Shannon region. This too is a headline for other parts of the country. In view of what I have said already, I do not think I have to underline which part of the country I am referring to in particular. The Acting Chairman and our spokesman, Deputy Reynolds, emphasised the importance of one industry for the Shannon region, that is, food processing. I agree wholeheartedly with what was said on that issue.

I submit that, if the canning of beef and the processing of broilers — I want to keep to the point but incidentally County Monaghan is an area which produces 40 per cent of the country's broilers and 100 per cent of the duck development — are desirable in the Shannon region, and if this Bill which is providing money for that development is in aid of food processing, we could apply it elsewhere. Good example is being given by people who have taken an initiative, for example, in the mushroom exporting business. Dairy products are the same.

Shannon lies in one of the richest dairying regions in Europe. I agree that something is radically wrong with our economy and with the way we look at things when we are importing large quantities of food while we have the raw materials, so to speak, for the finest food in Europe waiting to be processed. I cannot understand what is wrong. When the Sugar Company developed an arm for processing, it went wrong. Why it went wrong I cannot say. All I know is this. If you go to any of the Mediterranean resorts you can buy tinned beef, tinned lamb and processed meat from Belgium, Holland and Denmark. We have very fine products here, but you will search in vain for our products on the shelves of supermarkets in the various areas which have been developed with apartamentos, and so on, in Europe.

This is a puzzle, but it is a puzzle which should be solved. We should know why we are not succeeding. In fairness to Kerrygold, you can get butter, salted and unsalted, and Kerrygold can hold its own with Lurpak from Denmark and other brands. Why is it that, with the raw materials we have, we cannot do the same from Shannon, or the Border region, or other parts of the country? There is something radically wrong with our thinking on the matter.

I am glad to hear from the Minister that a 20-year study is being undertaken in that region. The Acting Chairman asked me not to refer to other regions but, if I were allowed, I could mention another region where a 20-year study is in progress at the moment on industrial development. I welcome the Bill for its goodness per se. In particular, I welcome it for the kind of headline it could set for a development company in other parts of the country which are crying out for that kind of development, some for artificial reasons, one of which I mentioned, and others because of the general unemployment situation.

First may I thank Deputies who contributed to the debate? In particular I want to thank Deputy Reynolds for welcoming the Bill in the manner in which he welcomed it. We got a deep insight into the problems of the region in general from the Deputies representing the area. The only request I did not get was for the restoration of the west Clare railway. It was obvious that the Deputies in the region are au fait with the problems of the region and the workings of SFADCo. The Bill is a reflection of the Government's commitment to SFADCo and the development of the mid-western region.

A point of procedure was raised by Deputy Skelly, who said that there was not sufficient time given for him to study the Bill. I must disagree with that. The Bill was published and circulated two weeks ago and there was ample time given for all Deputies to consider the Bill. Indeed, in his remarks he seemed to be querying the ability of Deputies to question the operations of SFADCo. I would also reject his comments in that regard on a number of grounds. The company publishes an annual report which is quite comprehensive and one of the more detailed reports which we get in this House. That report is laid annually before this House for the consideration of the Members. Secondly, in the annual budgetary estimates moneys are provided for expenditure and all Deputies have ample opportunity in the budget debate to query the activities of the company. Of course, the Deputy can also at any stage contact the company, put down a parliamentary question or raise any matter with regard to the company on the Adjournment. His remarks were slightly out of line with what I believe to be correct.

This is an enabling Bill which increases the funds available to the company. The basic idea in the Bill is to finance the company for approximately three years in order that we in the House can have a further review of the company's operations when the limits of expenditure are reached again. That is another safeguard which this House has with regard to the operation of the company.

The Bill reflects our commitment to the company. The company has been exceptionally successful with regard to Shannon Airport, the industrial estate, the evolution of Shannon town, the promotion since 1978 of indigenous small industries in the mid-west region and in developing community affairs. They have been extremely successful in that regard and I would reject any criticisms of them.

The company have also been successful in innovation and in this regard Deputy Reynolds's remarks were particularly constructive and far-seeing. I welcome his attitude towards industrial policy. He has obviously had experience as Minister for Industry and Energy and he is aware of the rapidly changing needs of industry. His constructive approach today to industrial policy is somewhat in contrast with stands of attitudes he takes on other occasions when he can be very negative in his thinking. Judging by his contribution today he obviously has an insight into the problems of the country.

Our industry has over the past ten years suffered structural damage primarily for two reasons — the first being two energy crises in the seventies and then the tremendous worldwide recession we are currently experiencing. These have done tremendous damage and have tested our industrial base very sharply. Since we entered the EEC we have had to dismantle our system of protection. That has caused certain long-established industries to open their minds and their doors to competition. Some of these industries have not been successful. We are now certainly seeing a new generation of industries — high technology industries, industries based on chemicals and advanced engineering. The IDA and SFADCo are very much aware of the type of industries that are needed to serve the industrial needs of this country in the future. I can assure the House that this Government are also aware of the industrial needs of the country and also the need to ensure that we have the environment for successful industry. The environment for industry has not been good in the past few years. Damage has been done to the environment for industrial expansion and this Government are committed to restoring that environment. I was on an industrial promotion visit to the United States recently and they are certainly questioning the environment for industry here and that is why investment from that area has not been at as high a level as it was in the seventies. It is this Government's task to restore that environment, which has been lacking since 1977.

SFADCo have been a pioneering company and continue to be a pioneering company. The innovation centre and the micro-electronic application centre are two examples of very forward thinking on the part of SFADCo. They have not been slow in applying new concepts to the needs of industry. Deputy Reynolds spoke about some of the concepts. The policy now in relation to advance factories is to build smaller ones because we feel there is a greater potential for employment in smaller industries. The IDA's Enterprise Centre in Pearse Street Dublin is modelled on the work space concept in Limerick where a whole range of services are provided for small industries on a shared basis. SFADCo's Shannon service programme is based on the IDA's international services programme which is aimed at promoting high grade white collar employment such as computer software industries and the incubator units now being established in Galway and Dublin are based on the SFADCo/NIHE initiative and go some way towards meeting the ideas put forward by Deputy Reynolds and other Deputies.

The innovation centre is linked into a worldwide data information system and SFADCo are working very closely with MIT in Boston. This allows them to search out new product ideas by an internationally based method. This again reflects the forward thinking of SFADCo, a forward thinking which is to be encouraged. We in this Government shall continue to encourage forward thinking and new ideas in SFADCo.

Mention was made of the food processing industry. Deputy Brennan suggested that the Department of Agriculture's interest in agriculture should end at the farm gate and post-gate and that a different Minister should be in charge of the food processing industry. This is an ongoing argument. Certainly the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Industry and Energy closely co-operate in regard to development in the food processing area. It is a disappointment that our food procesing industry has not developed as rapidly as it should have done and some attempt to have an added value content in the industry has, indeed, met with failure. It is certainly one of the disappointments on the industrial scene but that has been the case. Why it has been the case it is difficult to know. There are perhaps certain reasons, that the IDA are aware of the present and future needs of the processing industry and are applying their minds in that area.

It has also been stated in the course of the debate that SFADCo has a special programme for matchmaker linking the requirements of large firms with small industry in the mid-west region. This is an attempt, a successful attempt, to ensure small industry in that region has an opportunity of meeting the requirements of large industry. SFADCo have set a target of £5 million worth of business for small industry in the region for 1983. Much more, of course, can be done and will be done in this area. It is interesting to note, again in the context of the food processing industry, that SFADCo is about to develop a specialised food processing enterprise centre in the Limerick area. This will be an initial development in this area. It is recognised that the heavy capital investment involved is a prohibiting factor for small food processors. This again is an example of the innovative approach evident in SFADCo and we will certainly watch with interest the evolution of the specialised food processing enterprise centre.

Some Deputies raised the question of the review which is constantly ongoing in the company. The purpose of this is to ensure that the result and the promotion of areas are fully geared to meet the challenges. There is a three-year review taking place. This year the company have engaged external consultants to have a look at the company's operations.

It is always interesting to have consultants come in periodically to look at the company's operations and the way it is going. It is also interesting to note that the company is undertaking a study for the future of the industrial estate over the next 20 years. That is a process of long-term forward planning which is very important in a rapidly changing industrial world. This attitude to the company's activities from within the company itself is certainly very welcome. They can lay down short-term reviews and override them with a long-term review of developments. That is something to be welcomed. It is something other State bodies could copy with advantage.

Deputy Carey mentioned large industry. So did Deputy O'Donnell. They argued SFADCo should have a wider role. It should be understood that SFADCo operate on the basis of referral by the IDA of new projects for the Shannon Industrial Estate and that estate has done well in the context of the country as a whole. Last year employment fell by only 6 per cent. It is holding up extremely well in the current recession. It must be said, however, that the IDA must continue to have overall responsibility for industrial development in the mid-west region as a whole, especially in relation to large industry. I do not think they would like to see a duplication of resources and development in the mid-west region or that they would like to develop SFADCo into a regional development operation. I do not think that was intended and I do not think it is the correct direction for the company. The IDA are a very professional body and they are well aware of the needs of each region. There is also close co-operation and contact with SFADCo on an ongoing basis.

The question of an estuarial harbour board was raised. I understand that Deputy O'Malley in the 1970s made some attempt towards the unification of the existing port authorities but did not meet with any great success. In fairness to Deputy O'Malley, I can see the very complex problems that exist there. It is really a matter for the Department of Transport. I do not wish to comment on the correctness of SFADCo taking over a unified estuarial board. I doubt there would be any great advantage in that. I appreciate the complexities involved and the matter is one which should be properly adressed to the Minister for Transport.

Deputy Carey also referred to the question of the Westinghouse Company not being competitive enough in regard to tenders. I think Westinghouse accept the position that arose in the case the Deputy raised. They brought in a vacuum interruptor project to replace the industrial systems project. The company currently employs over 65 engineers and scientists at Shannon. It would be only right for me to say that Westinghouse are committed to this country and that is something to be appreciated. They have up to eight plants now in the country and are showing themselves to be very interested and confident in the future of Ireland as their European industry base. One should point out that they have been very successful in this regard.

Deputy Cowen raised the question of extending SFADCo's responsibility to all of County Offaly. It is not possible to do that now. West and south west Offaly are a natural extension of North Tipperary and SFADCo's assignment in Offaly is temporary. One should say also that designation of an area for higher grant rates does not necessarily assure that area of new industry. Indeed SFADCo have shown that intensive promotion is the best method of getting industry into an area. I might point out also that SFADCo give the same rate of grant as the IDA for small industries in Offaly so that there would be no great advantage in extending SFADCo's remit to the complete county of Offaly.

I think it was Deputy Daly who raised the advance factory situation. The position in County Clare is as follows — the question was asked in relation to County Clare — as at May 1983 there are 120 units with a square footage of 218,537, completed, of which 94 units are occupied. The square footage involved there is 160,043 which gives an occupancy rate of 78 per cent, which is high. There are also a further 13 units allocated with a square footage of 32,547 or 11 per cent of the total square footage, which leaves 13 units with a square footage of 25,947, or 11 per cent of the total completed square footage built there and ready for occupation. I consider that rate of occupancy and allocation is very high by national standards. There are still advance factories available in County Clare for occupancy.

Deputy Daly also raised the question of the closures of Kilrush Pottery and Interton. The Industrial Development Authority are actively promoting both those companies and are now talking to potential buyers. While one must always be conservative in what one can say, I am aware that the IDA are very actively involved in both of those companies. Indeed I should like to thank Deputy Daly for his kind works and wishes. From his time in office he is obviously aware of the very difficult time industry is going through.

A question was raised regarding planning permission for a shop near Bunratty.

It is near Durty Nellie's.

I have never visited the premises. It is primarily a planning permission matter and properly one for the Department of the Environment. However, I understand that SFADCo is taking legal advice on whether the permission is valid on the basis that the location was inadequately identified in the original planning application and that Clare County Council failed to notify the prescribed bodies about the proposal. I do not wish to get involved in it; that was merely by way of giving the House that information.

Deputy O'Donnell raised the question of extending the remit of SFADCo to the entire mid-west region. I cannot accept his philosophy in that regard. Apart from the small indigenous industry and the airport the IDA have responsibility for industrial development in the mid-west region. In my opinion that is as it should be. I do not foresee any policy change in that regard in the near future.

Deputy O'Donnell's philosophy seems to be generally acceptable to the Government.

I would not say that——

Obviously there is somebody out of tune with somebody else.

The Deputy is perfectly entitled to express a different opinion with regard to his region. I am merely making the point that it is not the intention of the Government to extend the remit of SFADCo to the entire mid-west region. To a certain extent it would be a duplication of resources which I am sure nobody in the House would desire. Of course, with regard to Deputy O'Kennedy, he has not always been at one with his party leaders either. Perhaps we should not go into those personal matters at all.

Who is talking about party leaders?

The new strategy that will emerge when the 20-year review takes place will no doubt benefit the entire region. The question was raised of the actual expenditure on certain items; I think it was Deputy O'Donnell who raised it. The information he sought was as follows: in industry, in 1983, expenditure on the Shannon Industrial Estate factories is £3.341 million; for small indigenous industries, that is land and factories, £4.983 million. Expenditure on Shannon town community works is £870,000, house loans £400,000 and on medium and large IDA works in the region £1.556 million, giving a total of £11,150,000. That is a considerable sum to be expended and demonstrates the commitment of this Government to the mid-west region.

Deputy O'Donnell also discussed at length the development projects of SFADCo. These projects, to which an officer of the company was assigned very recently, are still at a very early stage. It would be too early a stage to say how far SFADCo would get involved in community development projects or how successful they might be. Again this is a reflection of the original thinking, if you like, on the part of the company. It is something we, as a Government, welcome and shall continue to encourage.

Shannon town itself had a successful election apparently for the Opposition party not so long ago. Of course it will continue to receive the attention of SFADCo. There is a need for planning the provision of community services parallel with the development of industry. This makes it necessary for SFADCo to continue to be deeply involved in the development of the town. Common services such as water and sewerage systems have been developed both for the town and the industrial estates.

Those are the main points raised by Deputies and I have tried to answer them as best I can. I am very pleased that the Bill has been so well received by the House. It reflects the success of the activities of SFADCo. The company can go on now with the good work they have done since 1959 in the interests of Shannon and the mid-west region.

Has the Minister any proposals or plans for extending the SFADCo small industries programme into North Kerry where there is extensive unemployment? The area needs the intensive care and attention which SFADCo give.

My understanding is that SFADCo have not sought any further extension of their areas of responsibility. They rightly see their role in the experimenting and testing of systems as being more important than new geographical areas of responsibility.

If the North Kerry Development Association seek it, will it be considered?

If they seek it and put a case, it will be considered; but I cannot give any undertaking with regard to the outcome of such consideration.

Question put and agreed to.
Agreed to take remaining Stages today.
Barr
Roinn