asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he has received a request from Tullamore Urban District Council to receive a deputation from the council with a view to discussing the serious and grave unemployment in Tullamore and its environs in County Offaly; and if he will arrange for reception of this deputation as soon as possible.

I have received a request for a meeting with a deputation from Tullamore Urban District Council to discuss the unemployment position in Tullamore and its environs. I am aware of the current unemployment situation in the Tullamore area and I can assure the Deputy that the Industrial Development Authority is making every effort to promote further industrial development, including the development of small industry, in the area to which, incidentally, a number of major overseas projects was attracted in recent years. The Authority has 62 acres of land and a 27,000 sq. ft. advance factory at the Shragh Industrial Estate in Tullamore which are being actively promoted for industrial development.

I do not propose to accede to the request to meet a deputation from the Tullamore Urban District Council because I do not consider, having regard in particular to the efforts of the IDA to promote further industrial development in the Tullamore area, that such a meeting at this stage would serve any useful purpose.