asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the up-to-date position in regard to the establishment of an industry in the town of Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, and if his attention has been drawn to the necessity for a factory to provide employment in that area.

4.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will instruct the IDA to provide an advance factory at Moate and Kilbeggan,

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

The Industrial Development Authority have no plans at present for the provision of an advance factory at Moate or Kilbeggan. I understand, however, that the Authority are in negotiation with an overseas company who are interested in establishing an industry in an existing factory premises in Kilbeggan, and that it is expected that negotiations will be completed in the near future.

A number of people have been unemployed in Kilbeggan since the closing of Locke's Distillery. Can the Minister give us any idea when we may expect this factory to start operating?

I cannot. I said "in the near future".

5.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he IDA will provide an advance factory at Foxford, County Mayo, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I understand that the Industrial Development Authority have no plans, at present, for the construction of an advance factory at Foxford, County Mayo. However, the IDA own a 3.6 acre site in the town and the area is being actively promoted for a suitable industrial project.

When is it proposed to provide a factory in Foxford?

As I said, there are no plans at present for the construction of an advance factory at Foxford. However, the IDA are promoting that site of 3.6 acres. They have had a number of prospective industrialists on the site but so far they have not had success.

Is it normal for people of this type to visit sites on which no factory has been built?

Of course it is normal. The IDA bring prospective industrialists to all sites and advance factory units. Surely the Deputy would be anxious that the IDA should bring industrialists to see their sites.

Of course. I should like to bring to the Minister's notice that last Tuesday the reply which the Minister gave now was published by his colleague, Deputy Calleary, in the local Mayo newspapers together with three other replies to questions given by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. I must put on record my abhorrence at the despicable practice of answers being given to the Minister's colleague a week before they are given in this House. That is a despicable practice, and it should not be continued. It undermines the function of this side of the House in seeking to get information from the Minister.

The Deputy may not make a speech at Question Time.

I am protesting at this despicable practice——

If the Deputy would allow me to reply he might be satisfied.

——of the Minister issuing the good news to his colleague before answering me in this House. It is despicable and it should not be continued.

The suggestion is that the Minister of State received information from my Department. I assure the Deputy—he does not want to hear the assurance—that the Minister of State concerned did not request any information from my Department and did not get any information from my Department. However, if the Minister of State, acting in his capacity as a Deputy, or any other Deputy from any side of the House, asks for information from the Department he will get the information. I have told the Deputy that information was not given to the Minister of State involved and if the Deputy checks the newspaper article he will see that the information did not come from the Department.

Is the Minister of State responsible for the IDA or are the IDA responsible for this?

As a first generation Mayoman I have no intention of involving myself in the day-to-day politics of County Mayo, east or west.

Are the IDA the responsibility of the Minister?

Of course they are.

Is Deputy Calleary the mole in the Department?

6.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if the IDA advance factory in Kiltimagh, County Mayo has been rented to a suitable tenant to date, if so, when production will commence and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am informed by the IDA that while their 24,000 square feet advance factory in Kiltimagh will be ready for occupation at the end of this month, a suitable tenant has not yet been identified.

However, the IDA assure me that the factory is being vigorously promoted with a view to the location of a suitable industrial project there.

What would the Minister regard as a suitable industrial project in the context of the heavy unemployment in that area?

A project that will give employment in the area.

Employment for males or females?

A project that will give employment.

Concern has been expressed concerning the kind of project in this factory. There is heavy unemployment in the area and will the Minister assure the House that priority will be given to the creation of suitable employment there for male workers?

The Deputy must be aware that since January 1977, comparing it with January 1980, there has been an increase in employment of up to 33 per cent in the town. I will pass on the Deputy's comments to the IDA with regard to male employment in the area.

It is not a very large increase in employment in the context of overall numbers employed in the town.

7.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the up-to-date position regarding the erection of the proposed factory (details supplied) at Tuam, County Galway.

I understand that the firm have decided not to proceed at this stage with the construction of a factory at Tuam.