asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in regard to the grant made by An Foras Tionscal to a firm in Portumna (a) the amount of the grant, (b) the conditions applicable to it, (c) whether the closing of the factory after two years was contrary to any of the said conditions, (d) whether these conditions still apply after the taking over of the factory by An Foras Tionscal and (e) whether An Foras Tionscal bought back the premises and, if so, at what price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portumna Factory.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the amount received by a firm in Portumna by way of a grant from An Foras Tionscal under the Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, towards the cost of establishing an industry, (b) what portion of the grant was applied towards the cost of (i) the factory plant and equipment and (ii) the factory premises, (c) the terms of the agreement by which the factory premises reverted to An Foras Tionscal and the cost, if any, to An Foras Tionscal of acquiring the premises and (d) what progress has been made to date with a view to the establishment of an alternative industry at Portumna in the premises formerly owned by the firm.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
A grant of £22,000 was made by An Foras Tionscal towards the cost of constructing a factory at Portumna. The grant was for the construction of the factory premises only and no part of it was used for the purchase of plant or machinery, the whole of which was provided at the cost of the firm concerned. The agreement between An Foras Tionscal and the firm provided, inter alia, that the factory would not be disposed of, except with the consent of An Foras Tionscal, during a period of five years from June, 1955. The firm has since transferred the ownership of the factory to An Foras Tionscal free of charge and the provision mentioned is, therefore, no longer applicable. The closing of the factory was not contrary to the conditions on which the grant was made.
An Foras Tionscal have advertised in the Press the availability of the factory for the purpose of a suitable industrial undertaking. I understand that a number of inquiries has been received by An Foras Tionscal regarding the establishment of alternative industries in the factory. It will be a matter for An Foras Tionscal to consider and approve of any proposals which may be made.
Is the Minister satisfied that £22,000 represented the true cost of constructing the factory premises; and, further, does the Minister consider that the premises at present, allowing for depreciation, are worth anything like £22,000?
The £22,000 was the cost of the acquisition of the site and the construction of the premises. I have no information as to what the factory premises are worth now; but, of course, they have been surrendered to An Foras Tionscal free of all charge.