asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any of the purchase price paid for a site in Ballinasloe in connection with an industry (details supplied) has been or is likely to be refunded to the promoter.

42.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that an industry originally designated for Ballinasloe (details supplied) is now being located elsewhere; what the reasons are for the change of site; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

With your permission, A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.

I am informed that the promoter concerned considered a large number of locations before finally deciding to locate the project in Clara. I should like to emphasise that the decision was solely that of the promoter.

I understand that the possibility of purchasing a site in Ballinasloe was discussed but that no purchase agreement was finalised and no part of the price was paid.

Is the Minister aware that planning permission for this factory was obtained for Ballinasloe?

I am not so aware.

It is a fact.

By whom?

Can the Minister state if it is usual for the IDA to allow grants for a factory in another area when planning permission has not been obtained for a factory in that area? Is it usual, as has happened in the case of Clara, that a grant is allocated before planning permission is obtained?

I do not think there would be anything unusual in that in so far as there would not be any great point in applying for planning permission unless you were proposing to do something.

Equally, there would be no point in applying for a grant if you are not going to obtain planning permission.

No, but it all depends on which way one looks at it.

I appreciate the Minister's difficulty in this instance because the area concerned is in his constituency. However, the Minister will remember he wrote a letter to his colleague in the constituency, which was subsequently published in the local papers, informing his colleague that he was delighted to tell him this factory was going to Clara——

Naturally.

Was it the Minister's intention to play politics in this instance, to credit to himself and his colleague some kind of political advantage? The fact was that the factory went to Clara and, while he denied having anything to do with taking it from Ballinasloe——

That has nothing to do with the question.

I want to state quite positively that I had nothing to do with taking this factory from Ballinasloe.

The IDA said the same.

The promoter was the man who decided to place the factory in Clara. I do not think anyone can accuse me of overdoing the industrialisation of my own constituency; the accusation is otherwise.

Can the Minister state how Clara was designated an underdeveloped area?

Because of a rather disastrous situation, and I am surprised the Deputy does not know this.

I know it. There are 1,500 people employed in Goodbodys but there is no factory of that size in Ballinasloe.

I only wish there were 1,500 people employed in Goodbodys.

Well, there were. Some industrial development bodies in Ballinasloe asked the Minister to receive a deputation. I received from the Private Secretary to the Minister a letter saying he was enclosing a copy of the Minister's letter but I did not receive this copy and therefore I do not know if the Minister is receiving this deputation. I realise this was only an oversight but I do not know if the Minister is receiving the deputation.

I indicated that I could not see any point in receiving the deputation.

We have been very badly treated in the west of Ireland. There is a great deal of talk about saving the west but there is no action.

A previous statement from me that 50 per cent of the 108 new industries which had been announced last year were going to the undeveloped areas hardly bears out what the Deputy has said.

Does the Minister not think it peculiar that the promoter of this company who applied to Ballinasloe for planning permission and got it, is able to leave and go to Clara without any planning permission? Does it not look as if somebody twisted his arm?

I would be inclined to suggest that the Deputy, as usual, is talking through his hat. I never conceded nor do I know that the promoter sought the planning permission.

He did and got it.

The promoter himself sought the planning permission.

Yes.

This is the point. I have not the information as to who applied. I replied truthfully to the Deputy that I did not know whether planning permission had been obtained, because my background information does not give me this.

My information, for what it is worth, is that the promoter sought and got planning permission.