asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate how many projects have been investigated, approved and started under the Industrial Development Authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Projects.
Since the establishment of the Industrial Development Authority all industrial proposals have been referred to it for examination. Altogether some 1,150 proposals have been before the authority. Of these 304 were initiated before the authority was set up. By the 30th June, 1951, the number that had reached the production stage was 105, of which 56 related to proposals received prior to the establishment of the authority. The question of approval only arose in the comparatively few cases where some special facilities were required by the promoters.
Would the Minister not now agree that this body has served a useful purpose?
I propose to make a statement in regard to that on my Estimate, as I have already indicated.