asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will outline his policy in relation to the promotion of exports in small industries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Small Industry Exports Promotion.
26.
Policy in relation to the promotion of exports by small firms was outlined in the Government's White Paper Programme for National Development 1978-1981, which was published in January 1979. As therein stated, the bulk of Córas Tráchtála's market advisory and incentive grant support will continue to be allocated towards increasing the number of small and medium-sized firms entering and developing export markets.
For the current year the allocation of grant-in-aid to Córas Tráchtála has been increased substantially, underlining the Government's determination to give additional encouragement to exporters particularly at a time when international trading conditions are difficult. On 6 March last plans were announced for the introduction of an intensified marketing and promotional drive for 1980 by Córas Tráchtála. These plans take special cognisance of the need to service the exporting requirements of small enterprises. They include the setting up of a new small firms export service and the adaptation of a number of existing services to increase their benefits to small firms.
Is the Minister aware that up to now the orientation of CTT was towards the bigger firms? What proportion of the extra money supplied this year in the Estimate will be devoted to the promotion of exports by smaller firms?
The assertion made by the Deputy in the first instance is not correct. The orientation of CTT for a good many years has been towards smaller firms but that orientation has been accentuated this year as a result of the new plans and policy in that respect which I announced earlier this month. In practice many of the larger firms are much better able to manage their export affairs than the smaller ones. That is one of the reasons why CTT have to devote a large proportion of their efforts and resources towards helping smaller firms who need a great deal more assistance than larger, more experienced ones.