asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps he intends to take to ensure that the GAC factory at Shannon will re-open.
Written Answers. - Shannon Factory.
34.
Limerick East): The company in question was recently obliged to lay off its workforce due to the fact that it had no further orders on hand. Its problems stem from the fact that it has been totally reliant on domestic market demand for buses to maintain production levels. To date it has almost entirely depended on Exchequer related bus purchases which, in certain years, were rolled forward ahead of immediate requirements. It recognised, however, that it's long term viability had to be based on export orders. While the State has given every possible assistance to its efforts to identify and develop export markets, no sustained outlets have been secured to-date.