asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the present position regarding the acquisition of an industrial site at Bantry, Country Cork.

Despite its continuing efforts during the past five years, the Industrial Development Authority have not been able to secure a suitable site at Bantry for industrial development. Negotiations had reached an advanced stage with three would-be vendors but could not be successfully concluded because of planning appeal difficulties in one case and the eventual withdrawal of the offer to sell in the two others. However, as I informed the Deputy in October of last year, discussions are at an advanced stage for the purchase of land near Bantry on which it would be proposed to build the 12,000 square feet cluster of small factory units originally planned for Seskin. I understand that the Authority are also investigating the possibility of purchasing a further site in the area but that these investigations are at a very early stage.