asked the Taoiseach if he has received a written request to meet a deputation regarding the Tuam sugar factory, County Galway, the date on which he will meet the deputation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuam (Galway) Sugar Factory.
1.
I have not received a written request to meet a deputation regarding the Tuam sugar factory.
The Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Deasy, and Deputy Connaughton, Minister of State at that Department, have discussed the problems of the Tuam sugar factory very fully with representatives of workers, management and local interests on a number of occasions in recent months and I have been kept informed of all aspects of these problems. The Tánaiste has also met a delegation from Tuam to discuss the future of the factory. As a result, the Government and I are fully informed of the situation at the factory and of the views of local interests.
Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta (CSET) have recently submitted a rationalisation plan designed to redress the present extremely serious financial position of the company which threatens the whole future of the sugar industry in Ireland. The Government are at present considering this plan, which calls for substantial Exchequer investment in the company, with a view to ensuring the maintenance of a viable sugar industry.
It seems that the Government are still considering plans submitted by Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta. Can the Taoiseach give us a de facto decision now as to whether the Tuam sugar factory will remain an integral, ongoing and permanent part of the operations of CSET in 1984 and in years to follow?
I have said that the question of rationalisation of the sugar company is a matter which is coming before the Government for consideration.
Is the Taoiseach aware that after the Minister for Agriculture visited Tuam he told the workers and all interested in the factory in Tuam that there would be a decision by September? We are now in December and we got no word from the Minister or the Government.
The matter is receiving very full consideration.
Can the Taoiseach indicate to the House, to allay the worst fears of the people involved in the western area — over 1,000 families would be affected if any disastrous decision were to be made in Tuam — when a decision will be made on this very important matter?
The matter is before the Government and will come up for decision in the near future.
Can the Taoiseach indicate to the House whether a decision on the matter will be made prior to Christmas 1983?
I would not like to enter into a firm commitment on that. There are a large number of items on the Government's agenda at present arising from the amount of work on the Estimates. While it might well be that the Government will deal with this matter by then, I would not want to make a firm commitment in case it proved to be impracticable and I would be misleading the Deputy.
Ceist 2.
On the question of commitments, is the Taoiseach aware that farmers have to make commitments for next year, and will he make a decision quickly to allow the processing of sugar beet to continue in Tuam so that farmers can make their commitments for 1984?
That is one of the factors which I fully appreciate.
Will the Taoiseach reconsider his decision not to meet a deputation because of the strategic importance of this matter to the whole western region? Surely it would be educational for him to meet a deputation. Why should not the head of the Government meet a deputation on a matter of such economic importance to the region?
In view of all the representations already made to members of the Government I did not consider that my receiving a further deputation at this stage would add to the weight of views we have already received.
I am moving to the next question.
Is the Taoiseach aware that a saving of close on £500,000 is being made by the Tuam sugar factory on their budgeted figures for 1983? Can he confirm that his Government are playing around with this decision——
That is argument. We cannot discuss the entire question of the sugar factory at this stage.
It is very important to the people of Tuam.