asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the cash value of all grants paid to establish industries for extensions and new productions to date; and if he will give this figure expressed as a percentage of total grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Grants.
42.
As at 29th February, 1964, grants approved to established firms for extensions and new productions amounted to £5,361,112 being 30.6 per cent of the total grant approvals of £17,501,727. Actual payments made amounted to £1,115,294 being 13.9 per cent of the total payments of £8,040,748.
Does it not appear that the extreme smallness of grants to existing Irish industries in comparison with grants to other industries is an indication that in fact it is much easier to get a grant if you are an industrialist from abroad than if you have an established industry here which has been employing people for decades?
I do not think any deduction of that kind can be made. As the Deputy well knows, the Minister has time and time again made it clear that grants are available to purely Irish firms. Again and again he has given particulars of the number of firms, either wholly or partly Irish, who have secured grants.
Whatever he said, that is what people believe.