asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the number of advance factories vacant at present, the location and the area of each, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority and Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. that 104 completed advance factory units totalling approximately 1.4 million square feet are vacant at present. Of this number, 26 are small industry cluster units. The location and area of each of these factories is contained in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann

Comhairle, I propose to have circulated. I would add that 65 of these factories, totalling over 980,000 square feet or 70 per cent of the total area, are at different stages of negotiation with the promoters of relevant projects.

Following is the statement:

List of Completed Advance Factory Units now Vacant Mid-May 1980.

*Under negotiation.

Is the Minister satisfied with the rate of progress being made in getting suitable tenants for existing factory sites?

I am very encouraged to see that, through the work of the IDA, 70 per cent of the overall total of 1.4 million square feet is at various stages of negotiation with relevant promoters.

Can the Minister give us any idea when the total square footage available may be taken up?

It would be impossible to give an answer to a question such as that.

Can he give us some idea when the 70 per cent now under negotiation will be filled?

Again it would be impossible to say. It would be wrong of me to mislead the Deputy by giving an answer of that type. I can assure the Deputy that, from the track record of the IDA over the past three years since this Government took office, I have no doubt the 1.4 million square feet will be taken up in the very near future.

Is the Minister aware that the work of the IDA was praised and applauded by this side of the House who set up the IDA in the first place?

And the Fianna Fáil Party voted against it.

They condemned it.

Are the IDA encountering difficulties at the moment in attracting industry?

There are always difficulties in attracting industry. There are varying difficulties at varying times. The IDA have been very successful. In the first two years they surpassed the targets they set for themselves for 1978-82 and I have no doubt that they will continue with this fine performance.

Séan Lemass called it a typical product of the Fine Gael mentality.