asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number of advance factory units provided by the IDA in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and the estimated figure for 1984.

18.

asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number of advance factory units provided by the IDA which remain unoccupied in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and the estimated figure for 1984.

A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.

Full particulars of factory completions each year by the Industrial Development Authority are contained in the authority's annual reports. In the case of 1980 in section 2 of the report; 1981 — sections 5 and 6; 1982 — sections 4 and 5 and 1983 — sections 4 and 5. Full details of factory completions during 1984 will be given in the IDA's annual report for 1984 which will be published this year. Approximately 20,700 sq. metres of advance factory space was completed by the IDA during 1984 with an additional 44,600 sq. metres of special factories.

The White Paper on Industrial Policy recognises that in recent years the supply of IDA land and factories has outstripped demand. Accordingly the Government have decided on revised guidelines—set out in paragraph 5.42 of the White Paper on Industrial Policy — for land acquisition and advance factory construction by the IDA. These guidelines are designed to ensure that the IDA's future building operations are confined to specifically identified priority needs.

The details of the number of advance factory units remaining unoccupied at the end of each of the years mentioned by the Deputy are set out in the tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The following is the statement:

Unoccupied IDA factory space 1980-1984

Has the Minister any plans to ensure that the surplus factory accommodation available will at least in part be taken up? The IDA might make it available on special terms to ensure that these units, provided at great expense to the taxpayer, do not lie longer than is necessary.

The purpose of the IDA's very active and increasingly successful industrial promotion programme, both at home and overseas, is to have these advance factories built as quickly as possible. The conventional type of speculative factory, which was built in the hope that an industry could be attracted to a particular area, is not being built at the moment. At present they are building factories for identified needs for individual firms or types of enterprise not adequately provided for elsewhere.

The Minister mentioned that certain information would be given in the 1984 report. When will this report be published?

I do not know for sure. I have not got it yet from the IDA and I would not expect to receive it this early in 1985.

Roughly, how soon will it be published?

I would say about the middle of the year, June perhaps. I will try to get it published by June.

Does the Minister agree that many of these reports lose their effect because we get them so late? I got the CIE 1983 report yesterday.

I heartily agree with the Deputy. It is very important that these reports be published on time. I will do everything I can to ensure that this report is published by June.

Apart from the normal activities of the IDA, do the Department have any particular plans in mind that would lead to the putting to use of some of the surplus factories? Having regard to the exceptional nature of the surplus now on hands, are there any extraordinary plans in train?

I think the surplus is diminishing because we are more successful in attracting projects than we were. It is an integral part of the overall industrial programme and it would not be sensible to separate the filling of advance factories from other aspects of industrial development. This is one of the instruments used in attracting industrial development.

What plans does the Minister have for providing factory facilities in towns of high unemployment where the IDA have no unoccupied factories at present? What is his attitude to acquiring empty factories at present in receivership in those towns?

In the normal course of events it would be for the industrial promoter to acquire an empty premises direct from the present owner rather than for the IDA to be an intermediary. That is a better arrangement. We will promote with equal vigour empty factories that may exist in the private sectors in such towns as we promote existing IDA advance factories. It is important to bear in mind that there are many towns of high unemployment which do not have advance factories but which have other available space which we should aim to fill as quickly as possible.

Would it not be hard for the IDA to promote with equal vigour factories which are not the property of the IDA? Surely they must fill their own factories first? One would hardly expect them to promote factories belonging to companies which are in liquidation or in receivership.

The overriding consideration in the IDA's work is the level of unemployment in an area. In that context they would promote as rigorously factory space which was available in a town which had high unemployment but where they did not have any advance factories as they would promote their own advance factories.

Can the Minister tell the House the approximate cost of the land and buildings of the vacant factories now on hand?

The Deputy did not ask for that specific information in his two questions and I would require notice to get it. If he puts down a separate question I will be happy to answer it.