asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of State-assisted factories opened in (a) Longford and (b) Westmeath in each of the past ten years, and the number employed in each.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Longford-Westmeath Factories.
47.
During the past ten years one firm which opened in Longford was approved for an industrial grant. The details of the approval appear in the annual report of An Foras Tionscal for the year ending 31st March, 1964. There has been no publication over the past ten years by An Foras Tionscal of the approval of an industrial grant for any factory opening in County Westmeath.
As regards employment figures, I do not consider it desirable that a private commercial concern should be asked for such information for publication.
Why not? If these are State-assisted companies we ought to know the results and the most important result is the number employed.
In the case of individual firms, it is not the practice to give the number employed.
It may not be the practice but it is desirable.
There are many reasons against it.