(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give consideration to an arrangement whereby the issue of industrial grants by the Shannon Free Airport Development Company could now be more appropriately dealt with by one authority such as An Foras Tionscal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Grants.
24.
Industrial development at Shannon Airport presents special problems and for this reason the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., was set up to deal with the administration of the area including the allocation of grants.
The question of the functions of the Development Company and An Foras Tionscal was fully considered in connection with the enactment of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., Act, 1959 and I do not propose to introduce amending legislation on the lines suggested by the Question.
(South Tipperary): I assume that An Foras Tionscal have investigating machinery to screen the credentials of applicants for grants. I assume there is similar machinery available for the Shannon Development Company. Would it not, in this age of rationalisation and integration we hear so much about, be considered appropriate to combine these two functions, and that a smaller body would consult with a larger body as to the credentials of an applying company?
I do not agree with the Deputy in this case.
(South Tipperary): That is a simple answer.