asked the Minister for Industry and Energy his plans for the provision of additional industrial jobs in Cork city.

I am informed by the IDA that in recent years they have secured a number of new large overseas industries for the Greater Cork area and have also assisted in the expansion of a number of existing industries.

These projects, which include Apple Computers in Hollyhill, Bourns, Cado Systems, Measurex and Witte Van Moort in Mahon, Digital, Showerlux, Sifco Turbine Components, Cantrell and Cochrane and Tungsram in Little Island, Liebert Corporation and Perkin Elmer Ireland Ltd. in Wilton, Lois and Tiklas in Cork city, have the potential to employ almost 5,000 persons at full production. Many of the jobs in these firms have yet to come on stream.

The IDA also have more than 1,100 acres of land and a total of 175,000 square feet of factory space available in the area for industrial development.

The IDA will continue to promote Cork city and environs for suitable industrial projects.

Ghost factories are of no consolation to the unemployed of Cork. There is no point in having factory sites and factory units if employment is not being created. I asked the Minister to let us have details of his plans for the provision of additional jobs in Cork city but instead of answering the question he gave us details of the records over a number of years. However, the records do not correspond with the evidence in terms of the unemployment situation in Cork. The figures in this respect have increased by 800 in the past four months.

I would like to remind the Deputy that many firms do not reach full production immediately on being set up nor in the first or second years or even perhaps in the third year. Anybody who is familiar with industrial development will know this. Apparently the Deputy is ignoring the fact that this economy is coming through one of the worst economic recessions ever experienced. It is not very long ago since the people on the benches opposite were on this side of the House but there were no magic solutions produced at that time to solve the unemployment problem. My first priority is to restore confidence in this economy so far as investment is concerned. That approach was initiated by the Taoiseach during his visit to New York and it was followed up by me last week in Germany. I intend to pursue the matter again in the US. First we must give confidence to potential investors, but we must realise that there is fierce competition for investment around the world. It is most unrealistic for someone who has been in this House for only a short period to suggest that nothing is being done. Much has been done already to undo the damage that had been done.

An announcement made in the last couple of hours proves conclusively that confidence is being restored so far as the Irish economy is concerned. Perhaps Deputy Allen would be patient and wait for less than a week when we will be able to tell him of a new project for Cork city.

Question No. 12.

I wish to ask a supplementary.

I am sorry, but I have called the next question.

I have only asked one supplementary on my four questions whereas the Minister has made a long statement.

The Deputy asked for details of my plans and I replied. What is the information he wants now?

This is not "The Albert Reynolds" hour.

Yesterday I was treated in the same way.

I will allow Deputy Allen to put a final supplementary but he must do so quickly.

The Minister has referred to the question of confidence in our economy but what are his plans in terms of restoring the confidence of the people of Cork city who consider themselves to have been abandoned by this Government? There is lack of financial investment into infrastructure.

I have indicated to the Deputy that he may expect an announcement for Cork within a matter of a week or so. I would remind him also that in the very short time that we have been in office we have invested up to £10 million in Whitegate, that there is full commitment to Cork city and its environs, but I am surprised that the Deputy is not aware of all this investment.

12.