The Minister of State may hear me out. This project was devised since the change of Government. I can assure the Minister of State that the Labour Party, in Government, would have had no difficulty in making £70,000 available for this project.
Applications were received from the people of the area, very many from people with ideas of what they would do in these units given the opportunity. The committee sat down, vetted the applications and ascertained who these people were. I and some other Deputies representing the constituency have met many of these people who want to set up in these units. They are remarkable people. I am confident that these people could come off the dole and set up as viable manufactures there. More than that, many of them have said that they would bring in apprentices, young school leavers, from the area and train them in their skills. I might mention just a few of the works intended which have been examined carefully by the committee and found to be viable. For example, one man would set up doing graphics, framing and designs and posters; another man could work with steel; another would manufacture non-ferrous products, another would manufacture ornamental gates and railings and in fact did so for one of the local schools: what a magnificent and fine job he made of them. Another man would make ornamental lamps and lamp standards. Another would carry out bicycle repairs and engage in electrical works, another in light engineering and components therefor, another would produce an historic newspaper, another would do security and services and another, arts and crafts and picture framing. These are just a number of the projects found to be viable.
This is not something that would cost money in the short or medium term. If provided through one Government agency or Minister — the £70,000 would take these people off the dole. That is the object of the exercise. I do not come here to seek to charge this Government with extra money. On the contrary, I seek to give these people a chance, through their own efforts, through self-help, to come off the dole and save the State money. They do not want to be unemployed. They have researched the market. They have ascertained that they can sell their wares and products if they are provided with an initial premises and set up there at a nominal rent. Then, when they get underway, they would hope to pay a more moderate rent — which they would be capable of doing — to the committee running this centre.
It is estimated that if just those 22 viable projects, which have been examined and approved so far, were got off the ground, 140 people would come off the dole in the west Tallaght area — taking on helpers, apprentices and so on.
As the House will know, the social welfare payments alone saved would soon surpass the £70,000, which is all it would cost initially. I sometimes wonder where is our sense in this country when we see native working people who — without training, education in university or in technical schools — are prepared to help themselves in one of the most deprived areas of the country. They had that hope and enthusiasm to come together, devise this project, bring it to Government asking for a miserable £70,000. The Taoiseach says he will refer it to his Ministers for earnest consideration. The Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy Reynolds, said it was a positive step and he thought the YEA would fund it. The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Flynn, said he had no money and could not help. The Minister for Labour, Deputy Ahern, said he would arrange for the YEA to put up £13,000 if the other £57,000 was raised locally. How can one imagine £57,000 being raised in an area of local authority housing where 70 per cent of the people are unemployed and in many cases have no bread on the table? The mind boggles at that kind of suggestion.
I pay tribute to men like Paddy Gannon and Jim Lovett who are the mainstays of this project and the driving force behind it, with the aid of a very able committee. Why can we not give them a positive response? I know they are not Japanese, Americans or Germans. They are just Dublin working people but they are prepared to provide 140 jobs. How many millions would the IDA be prepared to hand out to Japanese, Germans, Americans or Italians to provide 140 jobs in one of the most depressed areas in the country? Yet we deny these people. It is an outrage and a disgrace. It is a reflection on the Government and on all of us that we cannot help them.
We had a conference with the IDA in recent days and they seem anxious to help. They have had land in Tallaght for some ten years which they had hoped to develop. They are about to spend £50,000 on fencing the land because they have left it in such a disgraceful condition that it has been an eyesore all these years. They have £50,000 to fence their land but they cannot provide £70,000 for a viable project to take 140 local people off the dole. I cannot understand it.
I have known the Minister of State, Deputy Ger Connolly, for many years and I have great respect and admiration for him. I do not know if he has been involved in this matter until now but knowing him I hope he will agree that £70,000 is a bargain to provide 140 jobs. I hope he will give to the people of west Tallaght enthusiasm and encouragement and a spark of hope and light. They themselves have set up and organised this project. I am not looking for political kudos or to score points off anybody. I am asking purely and simply for hope for the people of west Tallaght. They have devised this scheme themselves and I am asking the Minister to give them the green light to go ahead. They will show what can be done. They will train apprentices and provide a community focus.
They have magnificant plans for that centre if they are given the chance. They have people prepared to come in on a voluntary basis to train youngsters and give advice on how to handle bank accounts and to carry on business activities such as buying, selling and marketing. The whole project is fine honed and they have prepared a substantial booklet on it. How many people could produce such a booklet coming as they do from a depressed area? The booklet has been circulated to semi-State bodies and Government Departments. The Minister knows it is right and that it makes sense. I appeal to the Minister to do the right thing. Give us these 140 jobs and this miserable £70,000. Never mind the fencing. We got on without £50,000 worth of fencing for ten years and we can manage without it for a bit longer. There is a good deal more I could say but I have agreed to give some of my time to other Deputies representing the area.
