asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the steps that have been taken by the IDA to encourage a group with Nigerian connections to take over Ross Company, New Ross, County Wexford.

Since this company went into receivership in January 1981, the Industrial Development Authority, in close co-operation with the receiver, have been actively seeking to secure a takeover of their assets and have indicated a willingness to support fully any such project which can clearly demonstrate a capability to sustain viable employment, of a significant level, at the yard for the foreseeable future.

Among the parties with whom discussions have been held is a group involving Nigerian and other interests who have submitted outline proposals. The interests concerned were, as a result of these discussions, requested some time ago to provide detailed proposals that would enable the IDA to fully assess all aspects of the project. Such detailed proposals have not yet been received.

I asked in the question what steps have been taken. Will the Minister tell me now what steps, if any, have been taken by the IDA to encourage this group to take over Ross Company?

The IDA had a number of discussions with the interest concerned spread over quite a period of time. Last summer, following several discussions which had taken place, the IDA put a number of questions to the promoters concerned. They were asked to submit a detailed proposal as a result of those questions. That proposal is still awaited.

Would it be true to say that the IDA have given very little encouragement to this group in the very recent past? Can the Minister tell me the reason for this type of action?

That is quite wrong. The IDA have been quite actively pursuing this matter. Apart from the group, who are the subject matter of this question, the IDA have been pursuing the possible takeover of the yard on a long-term viable basis with other interests and are currently engaged in discussions. I assure the Deputy, from the information that is available to me, that a considerable amount of work has been carried out by the IDA in this area, that that work is ongoing and they are actively pursuing the possibility of other promoters becoming interested in the yard as well as the promoters referred to in the question.

Is the Minister aware that there are between 1,100 and 1,200 people unemployed in the New Ross yard, a yard which was closed with a full order book, which is most unusual? What steps is the Minister taking to accommodate those unemployed people in New Ross?

The unemployment situation in New Ross is of considerable concern. It is because of that situation that the IDA have been carrying out such work endeavouring to find a suitable promoter who might become established in the yard again with the active encouragement of my Department.

Question No. 13.

One final supplementary?

No, Deputy, we are on to the next question.