asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in view of the undoubted success of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company he will make provision with a view to securing that the proposed regional offices of the Industrial Development Authority, referred to in Chapter 7, Par. 19 of the Third Programme: Economic and Social Development are established as genuine regional organisations with similar autonomy, and similar promotional functions to those of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - IDA Regional Offices.
88.
The regional offices to be set up by the Industrial Development Authority will provide a range of industrial services for existing or prospective industrialists in the region: administer industrial estates or advance factories provided by the IDA and generally promote regional industrialisation. They will work in close co-operation with the local authorities and other parties involved, in the region.
Will they have the same autonomy and the same promotional functions as the Shannon Free Airport Development Company?
They may not be exactly the same but they will be similar. This is a situation which is evolving as the Deputy knows and what has occurred in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary is an experiment. I consider that it is working rather well but it is an evolving situation and it may be that some slightly different pattern will emerge in other regions. I do not want to commit myself that everything will be exactly the same in the other regions but it will be on the same general lines except that I do not envisage in the initial stages at any rate the setting up of a separate State company for each region.
Question No. 89.
How does the Minister envisage the job being done if not by a State company?
By the regional offices of the IDA in the region.
How will they have the same autonomy if they are only——
The Chair must point out that we must proceed with questions and try to get them through. Question No. 89.