In 1971, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) built its first plant in Ireland, at Galway. In 1980, DEC opened a second facility at Clonmel, County Tipperary.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced that the Industrial Development Authority has approved grant assistance for a project, to manufacture mini-computers, to be established in Clonmel by the Digital Equipment Corporation of the United States. The project will be located in the 44,000 square foot advance factory at present under construction; production will commence during 1978 and 100 workers will be employed within the first year.