asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he has had discussions with the management of a company (details supplied) in County Sligo on the future of their plant; and if he will indicate the prospects for a resumption of production at the plant.

The IDA and Fóir Teoranta are continuing discussions with the company aimed at getting the plant in question back into production. As the market prospects for the company's product in the United Kingdom are not encourging, the company are, in the meantime, investigating the potential of other markets and assessing the various options which would enable it to resume production at Sligo. It is unlikely that a final decision regarding the re-opening of the plant will be taken before September 1983.