Industrial development in County Tipperary towns
The IDA is promoting the named towns, with advance factories and a major digital-equipment project planned or underway in Clonmel. Asked about unemployment and vacant factories in Carrick-on-Suir and Cashel, the Minister said negotiations with prospective tenants were ongoing; Begley added a by-election-related interjection.
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.
Comment on this
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.
Comment on this
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?
Comment on this
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.
