asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism when he proposes to designate grant aid and IDA priority in relation to job creation in County Wexford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Job Creation.
15.
I do not propose to designate Wexford for higher grant purposes. I am satisfied that the Industrial Development Authority are making every effort to attract new industry to County Wexford and these efforts will be maintained. In 1983, job gains in County Wexford exceeded losses by over 100 and manufacturing employment increased by 2 per cent.
A number of existing companies have been assisted by IDA to expand their operations and have increased their workforce as a result. The IDA have also worked closely in assisting a number of takeovers which has helped to maintain jobs in the county. The IDA are making special efforts to promote small industry activity in the county and special units for this purpose have been provided in Wexford town, Enniscorthy and Gorey.
Other facilities which the IDA is actively promoting for new industry are two 40,000 sq. ft. factories in Wexford town and a 28,000 sq. ft. factory at New Ross. Land totalling almost 200 acres is also available for future industrial development at four locations in County Wexford.
It is obvious from the Minister's reply that neither he nor the Government have any interest in the unemployment problem in County Wexford.
Has the Deputy a question?
Is the Minister aware that at present there are 6,500 people approximately unemployed in the county, that is, one in five are out of a job? Why is the Minister consistently refusing to designate County Wexford which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country when other areas that have a lower rate of unemployment have been so designated?
Since this Government took office the rate of increase in unemployment in Wexford has been well below the national average whereas when the Deputy's party were in office it was above the national average. That is an indication of our concern in this matter. I have also pointed out that manufacturing employment in Wexford increased last year and this was during the tenure of office of this Government. I do not happen to believe it has much to do with who is in office. I think much depends on the activity of people in Wexford and the IDA but as the Deputy has introduced this partisan matter he should check his facts a little better.
I do not know what is biting the Minister but he is very cross today.
The Minister does not have an answer for the people of Wexford.
The Deputy should not try to play party politics with this matter.
It seems to me the Minister is not aware of what is going on in Wexford. This may be because he refused to meet Wexford County Council on a number of occasions. Does the Minister agree that the low level of grants has militated against Wexford receiving its fair share of industrial jobs?
So far as meeting Wexford County Council is concerned, they happen to be one of two county councils in the entire country whom I have met with regard to industrial development. I do not think that having the same meeting and using the same arguments with every county council is a useful exercise. Because of the intervention of Government Deputies in Wexford who were particularly concerned that I should meet their colleagues on Wexford County Council, including those from the Deputry's party, I agreed to do so. I have met Wexford County Council to discuss the matter and I am glad to say that since then the rate of manufacturing employment creation in Wexford has been among the best in the country. Further, I do not accept the statement of the Deputy that the low level of grants has anything to do with the situation. Any project in Wexford that needs support gets it under the present scheme. Unfortunately what is lacking is a sufficiency of new projects. I hope the Deputy will use his considerable influence in County Wexford to encourage people who have ideas with regard to setting up industries to do so. As I have indicated in my reply, there are facilities such as advance factories and land available to anybody who wants to set up an industry in the county.
I wish to assure the Minister I will do all I can but, unfortunately, I am not in the same position as the Minister. Will he tell the House why Wexford has fared so badly? I can assure him as one who is living in the county that it is faring badly, taking into account that the local authority have provided excellent facilities and serviced sites as well as a good road network and an excellent port at Rosslare. I am anxious to know why we have done so badly.
Unlike many other places, in the last year the number employed in manufacturing in County Wexford has increased.
Will the Minister agree with his colleague, Deputy Avril Doyle, that the IDA are ignoring County Wexford? Will he agree with me that this is confirmed by his continued refusal to meet Wexford County Council?
I certainly do not agree with the statement quoted in the first part of the Deputy's question. As I have indicated already, I have met Wexford County Council, one of two county councils whom I have met to discuss industrial development. I do not accept the inference in the Deputy's question.