asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider providing that grant facilities be made available to industries in rural areas where they export 50 per cent. of their products as against the previous position where in certain cases it was necessary to export 100 per cent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Industries in Rural Areas.
36.
Industrial grants are provided by An Foras Tionscal on such terms and conditions as they consider proper, and I do not intervene in regard to the conditions subject to which grants are made in particular cases.
Would the Minister not agree that the suggestion in the question would expand and increase rural industries which are essential to our economy, and would stem emigration?
The Minister's view is that it might be a rather dangerous extension and that it would be well to leave it to Foras Tionscal, having regard to the considerations attaching to these cases.
Why should the Minister consider it dangerous? Surely the Minister and the Government are alive to the fact that people are leaving rural Ireland almost as fast as they can? The suggestion in the question might put a halt to that position. Surely some consideration should be given to the suggestion instead of turning it down flat?
I am sure that the Minister reviews from time to time in any necessary way the general rules applying to the giving of grants. The Deputy knows that there is no point in making a change which would result only in depriving existing home manufacturers of part of their markets.