(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of applications for grants received by the IDA for the 12 months ended March, 1975; and how this figure compares with the number received for the previous 12 months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - IDA Grants.
2.
I understand from the Industrial Development Authority that many approaches to the authority are tentative and do not advance to the stage where formal application for a grant is made. It is, therefore, not possible to answer the Deputy's question precisely. However, in the year ended March, 1975, grants were approved for 628 projects, as compared with 598 in the previous 12 months.
(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give any indication of the number of applications received compared with the previous 12 months? Surely there must be some record of the number of applications even though they are not fully processed?
It is not really a matter of processing. It is a question of what is counted as an application. The Deputy will be aware that this could start with a phone call or a casual inquiry but it is only classed as an application where there is a proposal for a grant, where a promoter has submitted a proper proposal with detailed information. There is not a register kept of casual inquiries but a register is kept of what I would call the proposals with the information required in order to enable a decision to be made and those were the numbers I gave the Deputy.
(Dublin Central): Were any firm commitments made in the past 12 months?
I do not have that figure with me. The question refers to the number of applications for grants received and I have given that figure in the sense that I have defined an application. I can find the other figure for the Deputy.
(Dublin Central): Would the Minister agree that the IDA are finding it more difficult to encourage investment here?
The Deputy is raising another matter.
(Dublin Central): It is very much on the point.
The question is a statistical one dealing with the number of applications for grants.
(Dublin Central): My information is that the number has diminished in the last 12 months due to factors relating to the economy and the Minister is aware of that. Would the Minister agree that the high inflation rate which has continued here and the introduction of taxation proposals by the Government are having a detrimental effect in this regard?
That is not relevant.
I am in the hands of the Chair.
The Minister does not deny it.