asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the plans he has for further industrial expansion in Ballinrobe, County Mayo.

I am informed that the Industrial Development Authority which owns 22 acres of land in Ballinrobe, is actively promoting the town for suitable industry.

Recently the IDA provided grant assistance towards the expansion of an existing project in the town; this will result in the creation of six additional jobs.

18.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the plans he has for further industrial expansion in (i) Clonmel, (ii) Carrick-on-Suir, (iii) Tipperary town, (iv) Cahir, (v) Cashel, and (vi) Fethard, County Tipperary.

The Industrial Development Authority is actively promoting the further industrial expansion of the towns referred to by the Deputy.

In Clonmel the authority is at present constructing two 3,000 square feet advance factory units; these are expected to be completed by mid-1981 and will be available for suitable small industries. Work has also started on a new 150,000 square feet factory at Clonmel for the digital equipment project where the work force is expected to increase to 450 during the next five years.

In Carrick-on-Suir and Cashel advance factories of 25,000 square feet and 28,000 square feet respectively have been provided and are being vigorously promoted for suitable projects.

Atari, a US company, has recently been approved grant assistance to expand its activities in Tipperary town. It is projected that an additional 63 jobs will be provided, bringing the total employment potential of the project to 151 by 1983. The IDA is also constructing a 10,000 square feet factory in the town which is due for completion in mid-1981.

The authority also has land available for further industrial development in each of the six towns.

I am informed that a number of projects are at various stages of negotiation for some of the towns in question but details of these projects must remain confidential for the present.

Is the Minister aware of the unprecedented number of unemployed in these towns? I refer specifically to Carrick-on-Suir and Cashel where there are two advance factories erected for a considerable time and no tenants have been found for them. What efforts are being made to obtain suitable industries?

I can assure the Deputy that there are negotiations going on at present for the factories he refers to. I hope they are successful. As the Deputy knows we can never say they are successful until work actually starts.

I hope you tell them that during the by-election.

19.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he has any proposals in his Department for industrial development at Cahirciveen, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am informed that the Industrial Development Authority is according priority to the industrial development of Cahirciveen and that a member of the IDA Regional Office in Cork has been given specific responsibility for the development of the South Kerry area.

A 10,500 square feet advance factory has recently been constructed in Cahirciveen. This factory and the recently vacated Tricots de Luxe Phillips factory are being actively promoted for suitable industry. A further four acres are available for industrial development in the town and consideration will be given to the purchase of additional land and to the provision of a further advance factory should this be necessary.

Is the Minister aware of the very grave unemployment situation in Cahirciveen where two factories closed recently? Is the Minister now saying that he has no positive proposals for Cahirciveen?

We are well aware of the situation. In October a deputation from Cahirciveen met Mr. Killeen of the IDA to discuss the matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, met the ITGWU deputation on 28 October also. There are negotiations going with people concerned but I shall not divulge the names.

Is the Minister saying that he has a positive proposal for an industry in Cahirciveen — the answer is yes or no?

The answer is that there are positive negotiations taking place.

I think the Minister does not care.

He does.

I think he has no interest.