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.