asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what steps, if any, have been taken by his Department with a view to re-opening Messrs. Alesbury's Mills situated at Edenderry, Offaly.

The possibility of securing the re-opening of the Edenderry factory owned by Alesbury Bros. Ltd., has been and still is engaging the attention of my Department but I regret to say that it has not up to the present been found possible to make any progress.

Would the Minister consider the possibility of the Housing Board doing something in connection with that factory? I understand that the Housing Board have power to manufacture the materials necessary for house building and I was wondering whether they had been consulted in connection with this factory.

Every possibility has been explored.