Vol. 348 No. 12
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the exceptional high rate of unemployment in the north Mayo area as outlined in a survey recently carried out by Ballina Trades Council; and if he will make a statement on the steps he intends to take to provide employment as a matter of urgency in this area.
385.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if, in view of the findings of a recent survey by Ballina Trades Council into unemployment in the north Mayo area, he will make a statement on the findings and on the steps he intends to take to remedy the problem.
A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 385 together.
I have not received a copy of the survey carried out by the Ballina Trades Council. I am satisfied that the Industrial Development Authority are making every effort to promote north Mayo suitable for industrial development. Many large industries such as Travenol Laboratories, Asahi, Hollister, Allergen and Halal Meats have been secured for north Mayo in the past ten years. The recent increase in unemployment in the area has not been significantly influenced by job losses in manufacturing industry.
The IDA have 126,000 sq. ft. of advance factory space at five locations and 64 acres of land at nine locations available for industrial development in north Mayo. In addition, the IDA are currently providing 3 × 750 sq. ft. small industry units in Ballina and 3 × 750 sq. ft. units in Castlebar.
The IDA are also actively co-operating with local bodies in the implementation of the Mayo Industrial Action Plan and are promoting Castlebar and Kiltimagh on a priority basis for industrial development.
384.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will make a statement on the efforts being made to provide an alternative industry for Ceimicí Teoranta at Corroy, Ballina, County Mayo, which would provide jobs at the vacant factory and at Ballina Port which had been used extensively by Ceimicí Teoranta.
Efforts to find a replacement activity at Corroy have been continuous since the original decision to terminate glucose production there and have included the use of international consultants, in addition to the IDA, IIRS and other State agencies. It is now felt that the site may be suitable as a base for several small manufacturing activities, preferably based on wet processing such as mixing, formulation and so on and the company plans to promote this concept both alone and in conjunction with the IDA Small Industries Division. The company's concept is that should it be successful in finding entrepreneurs interested in setting up manufacturing operations at Corroy, it would provide utility services, office administration and general support services to these companies at cost or at a small profit and generally encourage their development. This approach will be attempted for a two-year period and a small core staff, under the direction of a Ceimicí executive, will be retained on site for this purpose.
386.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the steps he proposes to take to deal with the unemployment crisis in County Mayo.
The increase in unemployment in County Mayo has not been significantly influenced by job losses in manufacturing industry. I am informed that in the past three years the Industrial Development Authority have approved grant assistance for 300 industrial proposals for County Mayo with a total potential of 1,800. Many of the jobs in these projects have yet to be created.
The IDA have 192,000 sq.ft. of factory space as well as 130 acres of land available throughout the county for industrial development. The IDA are actively co-operating with local bodies in the implementation of the Mayo Industrial Action Plan and are promoting Castlebar and Kiltimagh on a priority basis for industrial development.
