Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Irish Fertilizer Industries.

David Stanton

Ceist:

148 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the numbers employed by Irish Fertilizer Industries in its various plants; her views on the importance of the company to the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12294/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

Irish Fertlizer Industries (IFI) was set up in 1987 as a joint venture company with the State, through NET, owning 51 per cent and the remaining 49 per cent owned by ICI.

IFI's principal activities are the manufacture and sale of Nitrogen based fertilizers and associated chemical products. IFI is the only fertilizer manufacturing operation on the island and operates from three plants. Total employment is approximately 625, consisting of 207 employees in Marino Point, Cork, 195 in Arklow, 185 in Belfast, with the remaining employees working in sales and at head office in Dublin.

IFI produces approximately 1.5 million tonnes of finished product per annum, 60 per cent of which is sold on the Irish market resulting in approximately 40 per cent market share. It has been estimated that IFI contributes £60 million per annum to our economy and £20 million to the Northern Ireland economy, between natural gas purchases, electricity charges, transport and engineering charges, plastic/pallet purchases and other purchases of goods and services.