asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the amount of grant-in-aid actually paid to Córas Tráchtála in each of the past five years; and if it is expected that there will be an increase in the grant-in-aid when this country enters the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Córas Tráchtála Grant-in-Aid.
41.
The amount of the grant-in-aid paid to Córas Tráchtála in each of the financial years 1967-68 to 1970-71 was:
|
1967-68 |
£732,000 |
|
1968-69 |
£1,260,000 |
|
1969-70 |
£1,384,000 |
|
1970-71 |
£1,580,000 |
The grant-in-aid provided for the year ending 31st March, 1972, is £1,754,000.
The amount provided for Córas Tráchtála by way of grant-in-aid is voted by the Dáil each year. The amounts sought for future years will be determined in the light of Córas Tráchtála's needs and the Exchequer position.
Is the Minister certain that no difficulty will arise in relation to EEC regulations which would prevent us providing as much funds as we like for CTT?
The situation is quite the reverse. In the industrial field, where free trade operates, we can have the most highly geared marketing organisation we wish under the State's aegis. Córas Tráchtála have offices in Paris and Düsseldorf and are taking on extra marketing staff in those two offices. Quite recently they have established offices in Brussels and plan to open one in Milan very shortly which will provide a complete spread over the EEC countries.