asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total building cost of the Potez factory at Naas Road; the contract price; and the cost of the extras, above the contract price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potez Factory Building Costs.
33.
It is not the practice to furnish information of the type sought by the Deputy which is regarded as confidential between An Foras Tionscal and grant-aided concerns.
Is it not true that this premises was built on time and material and that it was not put out to public tender at all? Furthermore, is it not true that the Minister's Department subsidised the erection of this building, which was done by the dearest method, and the more labour the builder put into it, then the greater percentage he got?
This is not true. The position is that an estimate was made of the cost of the building and a grant, based on that estimate, was sanctioned. It is true that as a result of increases in the cost of labour and material, the actual cost was higher than the estimated cost but the grant which was originally sanctioned was not altered or increased.
Why was it not put out for public tender? If anybody is building a house, he puts it out for tender and gets the cheapest and best price. Why was it not done in the case of this Department?
It is not a case of a Government Department.
Well, of a Government Department subsidising this.
It is public money.
Surely Deputies on the opposite side are aware of the fact that industries which are setting up here are entitled to conduct their business in their own way, provided we are satisfied in assessing the grant we may be giving that we are not giving them more money than they are entitled to. Within those limitations, they are entitled to do their business in their own way.
How was this builder selected? Was his name pulled from a hat or was he a member of the Fianna Fáil Party?
He was a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, the same man as got the Templemore job.
I am not aware who the builder was.
Question No. 34.
Is it not a normal requirement of An Foras Tionscal to have three tenders in the case of any firm looking for a grant?
This is a practice which is sometimes observed but not invariably. There are other methods of testing the accuracy of quotations.
Is it not one of the written requirements?
It is.
I have had this experience more than once.
Is it not true that Potez were in such a hurry——
Let me say that I am not to be taken as saying that what Deputy Belton has alleged is correct. I do not know how this was done but I do know that the grant was arrived at with due checks on the correct assessment of the grant and when the grant was sanctioned, it was not increased.
Question No. 34.
Would the Minister state on whose account the grant was based or what machinery has the Minister in his Department to examine this?