asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total amount which has been paid in (a) grants and (b) loans by An Foras Tionscal and the Industrial Development Authority for the setting up of new industries by non-Irish interests, which have since closed down or otherwise failed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Grants and Loans.
40.
The total amount paid in grants by An Foras Tionscal and the Industrial Development Authority to new industries set up by non-Irish interests which have since closed or otherwise failed was £671,619. Of this total, £341,000 related to the GEC undertaking at Dundalk. As regards the balance of £330,619, projects which accounted for £231,000 approximately were taken over by other concerns, and negotiations are in progress for the acquisition by other interests of projects representing a further £90,000.
Neither An Foras Tionscal nor the Industrial Development Authority makes loans.
41.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of jobs which it was anticipated would be created in industries set up by non-Irish interests with the aid of State loans or grants to date; and the actual number employed in these industries at present.
In the case of industries established wholly or mainly by non-Irish interests and for which grants were approved by An Foras Tionscal and the Industrial Development Authority the promoters concerned have estimated that at full production employment will be given to a total of 13,200 workers.
There are a large number of firms concerned and the present actual employment figure is not readily available.
I have no function regarding industrial loans.
42.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in a case where a firm applies for a State grant or loan for the setting up or extension of an industry, there is any relationship between the number which it is anticipated will be employed in the industry and the amount of grant or loan allowed to the firm; if so, what is this relationship; and whether any money paid out in grants can be recovered if the employment anticipated in the industry does not materialise in fact.
In deciding the amount of a grant, An Foras Tionscal take into account, among other considerations, the extent of the employment likely to be provided by the undertaking. There is no prescribed relationship between the amount of the grant and the number of workers except in the case of a grant in excess of £250,000. When the grant exceeds that figure the relationship must be as prescribed in section 2 of the Undeveloped Areas (Amendment) Act, 1963.
It is not the practice to attach a condition to a grant providing for recovery of the grant if the anticipated employment does not in fact materialise. Any such condition would make it extremely difficult to attract industrialists to establish industries.
I have no function in the matter of industrial loans.