asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any proposals have been made to the IDA for the establishment of a potato processing industry in Ireland; and whether any such proposal was proceeded with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Processing Industry.
15.
Five proposals involving potato processing have been made to the Industrial Development Authority in the past year. Grant assistance was refused in four of these cases on the grounds that the home market was adequately catered for by existing manufacturers or that the scale of the project envisaged was uneconomic. I am not in a position to say whether, in the absence of IDA grants, any of these projects are being proceeded with. The fifth proposal is currently under consideration by the authority.
Arising from the fact that large quantities of processed potatoes are at present imported from Britain and elsewhere and also because of the fact that the future of the catering requirements in potatoes seems to be in processed potatoes, does the Minister not think that special consideration should be given to projects of the kind, especially those based on the actual farms where the potatoes are grown?
I think the Deputy may be aware of the project I have referred to which is currently under consideration.
It is in my constituency.
I can say, in regard to that, it is very much the sort of project I welcome. There is no lack of commitment on the part of the IDA or my Department. We wish to see it come to fruition.
Would the Minister use his best endeavours to see that this is brought to early fruition?
Certainly.