asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, with reference to the Customs Duties (Brushes and Brooms) Order, 1932, he will state (1) the number of the Saorstát firms engaged in the manufacture of the protected articles, the amount of capital invested therein; the number of persons employed therein and the value of their annual production; (2) the relative costs of production here and in Great Britain; (3) the cost of labour and rates of wages in this industry in the Saorstát as compared with such cost and rates in Great Britain; (4) the increase, expected to result from the Order, in the number of firms engaging in the industry, in the invested capital, in the employment given, and in annual output; (5) to what extent consumers of the articles protected by the Order can have their requirements met by home manufacturers; (6) what benefit is expected to accure to the Revenue of the Saorstát from the new duties and (7) if any application for aid, other than the tariff, has been made to him by any of the firms now engaged in the industry, or by any person or firm proposing to engage in the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brushes and Brooms Tariff.
There are some 24 firms engaged in this industry in the Saorstát, which employed a total of approximately 350 workers on the 1st September, 1931. The home production of brushes of all classes in the year 1929 was valued at about £90,000. No official information is available as to the amount of capital invested in the industry.
The wage position in the Saorstát is much the same as in Great Britain, both being regulated by Trade Board prices. In the case of some small items, wages are slightly lower here. The existing Saorstát firms claim to be in a position to cope with the entire needs of the country almost immediately.
I am not at the moment in a position to give a final estimate of the benefit likely to accure to the Revenue from the imposition of the duty.
No application for financial assistance, other than the tariff, has been received by my Department from any firm or person engaged or proposing to engage in this industry.