asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will consider declaring County Wexford a disaster area in view of the massive unemployment problem there; and if he will ask the IDA to give the area special and immediate attention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - County Wexford Unemployment.
4.
I am informed that during 1983 the Industrial Development Authority assisted a number of existing manufacturing companies to expand their operations in County Wexford. These include ABS Pumps and Lett & Co. In addition, 17 small industry projects commenced operations in the county last year which will lead to the creation of 100 jobs. The IDA also negotiated a successful rescue package with Bergman for the former Janelle factory at Enniscorthy.
There is a total of 113,500 sq. ft. of factory space available to the IDA for promotion in Wexford town. In New Ross an advance factory of 25,600 sq. ft. is currently being constructed as are cluster units totalling 4,000 sq. ft. and 9,000 sq. ft. in Gorey and Enniscorthy respectively. The IDA also own a total of 187 acres of land in the county which is available for future industrial development. The former GL Murphy and Irish Leathers factories in Gorey, totalling 140,000 sq. ft., are also being promoted by the IDA.
The Minister has avoided the question. At the end of 1983, 6,500 people were unemployed throughout Wexford — 19 per cent of the workforce as against the national average of 15 per cent. On the basis of those figures, is the Minister prepared to recommend that Wexford be designated as a priority area by the Government and the IDA?
I will give the numbers unemployed in the Wexford exchanges on 30 December 1983: Wexford, 2,634; Enniscorthy, 1,617; New Ross, 1,297; Gorey, 995. Compared with 1 January 1981, that represents in the case of Wexford a 53 per cent increase, Enniscorthy, 51 per cent, New Ross, 82 per cent and Gorey, 86 per cent.
I accept what the Minister has said. The IDA have the land and the advance factories, but unfortunately we also have the dole queues. Can we get any assurance from the Minister that the IDA will give special immediate attention to the area over and above what has been going on there?
To the best of my knowledge the IDA are already giving special attention to the problems of Wexford. I have given it special attention also, having met people from the county to discuss their problems. I do not believe we should look at the unemployment or the industrial problems on the basis of one county against another. The fact is that the reasons for unemployment here are much more profound than neglect of one county against another by any State agency. We have serious cost disadvantages which we must overcome in the industrial area, the energy field, in costs associated with labour and in regard to taxation deriving from excessive public expenditure. We also have problems in regard to the organisation of industry where, in my view, there is insufficient identification of the employee with the interests of the firm, lack of opportunities for work shareholding in industry, problems of absenteeism and so forth. It is at that wider level that politicians must seek to solve the unemployment problem. I certainly concede that there is a political responsibility for unemployment in this country, not in the sense of one area vying with another but rather trying to solve the more profound causes of unemployment which very often are the failure of the political system to control its own expenditure, and resulting in excessive costs which have to be borne by the productive sector.
Am I to take it from the Minister's answer that he does not intend to designate Wexford as an area in need of special attention? Is he aware that we have been on many deputations to his Department, that Wexford County Council have assisted in the provision of a land bank for the IDA and that there is very little evidence of any attention being paid to the county by the IDA?
This is becoming a debate. Would the Deputy ask a question?
There are 19 per cent of the workforce unemployed in County Wexford. Will the Minister at this stage give us some guarantee and some hope to the people of Wexford that the problem will be resolved to some degree?
The Deputy must realise that there are serious unemployment problems in every county in Ireland and there is no basis whatever for the allegation he is making that the IDA are not paying attention to County Wexford. They are paying particular attention to that county in view of what is recognised as the county's special unemployment problems, but this will not be solved by the type of opportunistic questioning the Deputy is engaged in. Our unemployment problems will not be solved by robbing Peter to pay Paul, by taking from one county to benefit another. We have got to be much more national than that in our approach to the unemployment problem.
With all due respect to the Minister the IDA have not done a proper job in Wexford. Will the Minister tell us what proposals the IDA have for job creation in County Wexford in the immediate future?
I have already answered that question in reply to the first matter relating to the overall availability of facilities for industry in Wexford. I should, however, indicate that there are a number of negotiations in progress in regard to certain projects in Wexford but I would be the first to admit that the pipeline for industrial projects is not as full as it should be.
It is dry.
It is not entirely. There are a number of reasons for some hope generally about industrial prospects during 1984 but it is undoubtedly true that there is not the stream of industrial projects available to the IDA for announcement that there was in the past. That points up what I was saying earlier, that if we are to solve our unemployment problems we must look at the more fundamental causes of unemployment on a national basis, not looking at one county against another.
(Interruptions.)
Arising out of the last few sentences of the Minister's reply, that is precisely what this side of the House and the country are waiting for. When will the Government give us a plan or a strategy to tackle the unemployment problem? In relation to the Wexford area, could the Minister tell the House — I am sure the Wexford Deputies would be very interested in this — what happened to the project that was at an advanced stage for Gorey, a health care factory, at the time he took up office? Is it gone by the board or what happened to it?
The information I have relates to Wexford in general. I would not like to get involved in a discussion of individual projects. I suggest, if the Deputy wants to ask questions about individual industrial projects, he puts down questions either written or oral in relation to them.
Would the Minister be so kind as to let me know in writing what happened to the project for this advance factory?
I will.
The Minister mentioned advance factories. When the IDA are awarding contracts to builders for advance factories, do they ensure that Irish made goods are used and to what degree?
That is a separate question.
Deputy Yates has been in touch with me about that matter. I can tell the Deputy that he is a little bit late.
Can I have an answer to the question I asked?
I try to ensure that Irish made components are used by the IDA not only in their own advance factories but also in respect of the case which I believe the Deputy may have in mind, factories which are being done on a lease basis by another promoter. The IDA endeavour to ensure that Irish made components are used. In this particular instance up to 80 per cent were used.