asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of the period since the establishment of An Foras Tionscal (a) how many applications have been received from each county within the areas prescribed under the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, for financial assistance in the setting up of industrial undertakings, (b) how many of these applications have been approved by An Foras Tionscal, the nature of the undertakings, the potential employment and the actual amount of grants made available in each area, (c) how many of these industries have already been established or are in course of establishment, and (d) the amount of capital locally subscribed in each case and the number of applications turned down through lack of sufficient local investment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of Industries.
The Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, provides for the submission by An Foras Tionscal of an annual report to be laid on the Tables of both Houses of the Oireachtas. I suggest that the Deputy await the presentation of An Foras Tionscal's next annual report which will cover the 12 months ending on 31st March, 1955. The Deputy will appreciate that certain of the information requested in his question could not, in any event, be made available as it relates to the activities and intentions of private commercial concerns.