Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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612. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the local community’s concerns in the Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib regarding the proposed location of a plastic melting facility in an Údarás na Gaeltachta premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27726/18]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Údarás na Gaeltachta did not send a representative to a public meeting in the Gaeltacht of Baile Ghib to address the local community’s concerns regarding pollution, health and planning over a proposed plastic melting facility in an Údarás na Gaeltachta premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27727/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.

I have been advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the proposed project, which is to be located at a vacant Údarás na Gaeltachta facility in Baile Ghib, is not a plastic melting facility. Údarás na Gaeltachta have informed me that the proposed project will manufacture PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) pellets/chip directly from industrial offcut filament and fibre material from PET manufacturing facilities. I understand that this residue material is not contaminated and arrives at the facility in a clean and dry baled format, which is then shredded, heated and extruded into pellet form.

I have also been informed by Údarás that they assessed the project, technically and financially, during the due diligence process and satisfied itself, with assistance and technical expertise of Enterprise Ireland, that the project warranted support. I am advised that the building in question is to undergo a refurbishment programme which will ensure that it adheres to all building regulations and fire certification.

In relation to the concerns of the local community, I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that some members of the local community in Baile Ghib recently made contact with them to highlight concerns they had regarding the proposed project. Údarás na Gaeltachta have assured me that they have ensured that the concerns of the community were fully considered and they have been provided with as much information on the project as is possible. I also understand that the residents had previously met the project promoter and had received information from the promoter regarding the proposal.

With regard to the non-attendance of an Údarás na Gaeltachta representative at the public meeting, I have been advised that the proposed project is at a very early stage of development and full details of every aspect of the business are not, as yet, available.  I have also been advised that Údarás na Gaeltachta have ensured that all information available to them was passed on to the members of the community that were organising the public meeting on the matter to ensure that the public’s concerns were addressed as early and in as much detail as possible. In addition, it was Údarás na Gaeltachta’s understanding that the project promoter was unable to attend the public meeting that had been arranged. Given that most of the queries raised by the community related directly to the project promoter and was information that only the project promoter would have had at that time as the project was at a very early stage, the considered view of the Údarás was that their presence at that meeting, at that juncture, would have been counterproductive and unsatisfactory to all sides. I understand however that Údarás has provided a response to the queries that were raised and provided as much information as was available in advance of the meeting to assist in addressing the public’s concerns addressed as early and in as much detail as possible.

I understand that The project promoter has met with the community, and has also been in contact with Meath County Council to ensure that any permissions, regulations or licences that are appropriate are in place for the project.

Údarás na Gaeltachta works hard at all times to source strong projects which can sustainably achieve their business goals, adhere to all regulatory requirements within the state and its industrial development goals, while establishing a positive relationship between the local community, the company, and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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614. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of grant aid given to a company (details supplied) by Údarás na Gaeltachta; the number of jobs the company created; the length of time the company remained in the Baile Ghib Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27728/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that employment grants of €170,000 and rent subsidy grants of €41,631 have been paid to the company referred to by the Deputy.

I understand that the company took possession of the factory premises in Baile Ghib in October 2014, that  it had 23 full-time employees during 2015 but that that figure gradually fell to zero during the period from November 2015 to the end of February 2016.  

I have been further advised by Údarás na Gaeltachta that they initiated proceedings against the company to revoke these grants but were unsuccessful in that regard.