(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is prepared to consider the inclusion of Cashel, County Tipperary in the undeveloped area for industrial grants purposes so as to secure for this town the establishment of the textile industry at present under negotiation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cashel Industrial Development.
30.
Provision has been made in the Industrial Grants (Amendment) Act, 1963, to enable the Board of An Foras Tionscal, in specified circumstances, to apply in areas like Cashel the scale of grants laid down in the Undeveloped Areas Acts. In the circumstances, I am not satisfied that adoption of the Deputy's suggestion would serve any useful purpose. It may be taken that every possible assistance will be given by my Department and by An Foras Tionscal towards the development of any sound proposal for the establishment of an industry in Cashel.
(South Tipperary): I wonder would the Minister answer me “Yes” or “No”?
No what?
No, sir.
(South Tipperary): To the question.
The answer is "No".
It is a bit loaded.
(South Tipperary): The answer is loaded.
The Deputy's question is based on an earlier Act which gave the Minister power to include by order a place outside the undeveloped areas in relation to the application of grants. A later Act makes it possible for An Foras Tionscal to give grants on the scale applicable under the Undeveloped Areas Act to such areas as Cashel and that makes it unnecessary for me to make an order. An Foras Tionscal can do it now without the Minister making an order.
(South Tipperary): It is a 100 per cent export project. Has the Minister any interest in that?
If there is a project put before An Foras Tionscal they are entitled now, without any order from the Minister, to apply grants which would have applied to such an industry if it were established in the undeveloped areas. They have power to do that without a ministerial order.
(South Tipperary): If they refuse, can we then go to the Minister?
The Minister has no function. Is that not right?
I have a great many functions. The Deputy must not have been around the House recently.
The Minister says An Foras Tionscal are entitled to do it, but will they do it?
The Deputy should appreciate that they are dealing with public money and, if anything goes wrong, Deputies are loud enough in their criticisms in regard to giving grants and, therefore, we have to be very circumspect.
So Cashel will not get anything.
In relation to An Foras Tionscal, I think if application is made to the Department, the matter is referred to An Foras Tionscal. The Minister's predecessor told me he had no function.
I think the scope of the debate has widened.
Cashel will get no money. That is a sure thing.