asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there is a possibility of a replacement factory to offset the redundancy caused by the closure of the Gorey shoe company, County Wexford.

111.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there is a possibility of a replacement factory to offset the redundancy caused by the closure of the Courtown brick factory, County Wexford.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.

The Industrial Development Authority are already engaged in negotiations for the location of new industries in the Gorey-Courtown area. While it is too early to say what the outcome of these negotiations will be, the Deputy can be assured that everything possible will be done to ensure a satisfactory conclusion.

Could the Minister say when the IDA will be in a position to issue their findings?

Naturally, it would be impossible for me to be able to indicate when the IDA would be in a position to issue their findings. This depends on discussions they are having with potential industrialists regarding the provision of industries in those areas. It would be impossible to anticipate the date of the outcome of these discussions.

Some of the discussions have been going on for several months.

Three projects are being discussed. Some of the discussions have been going on for several months while others started only recently.