asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the steps being taken to alleviate unemployment in the Finn Valley area of County Donegal.

In the five years 1978 to 1982, the Industrial Development Authority, succeeded in creating over 550 first-time grant-aided jobs in manufacturing industry in the group of towns: Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Lifford, Letterkenny, Milford, Ramelton and Rathmullen, which includes the Finn Valley area.

The IDA have a total of 78,000 sq. ft. of factory space available for immediate occupation in the vicinity of the Finn Valley, namely, 27,000 sq. ft. in Ballybofey/Stranorlar and 27,000 sq. ft. and 24,000 sq. ft. factories in Letterkenny. A factory unit of 7,000 sq. ft., and a cluster unit consisting of three 3,000 sq. ft. factories provided by private finance are also under construction in Letterkenny. The IDA also have 55 acres of land available for industrial development in Letterkenny and five acres in Lifford. All of these facilities are being vigorously promoted for industry.

Can the Minister indicate if there have been any inquiries recently about the possibility of having industry located in some of the advance factories mentioned?

As I mentioned in response to the previous question, the advance factory in Stranorlar has been visited on 13 occasions by overseas companies in the course of the IDA's efforts to promote it.