asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the reason consideration of an application for grant assistance by a bakery and confectionery business (details supplied) in County Donegal has been delayed by the IDA since December 1979 despite the fact that 35 jobs are involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant Assistance Application.
10.
Because of excess production capacity, grant assistance for the bread-baking sector has been discontinued by the Industrial Development Authority since 1974 except in respect of cases involving group rationalisation or restructuring. Grant assistance for the flour confectionery sector has also been suspended by the authority since the beginning of 1980 pending the outcome of a review aimed at determining whether there is excess production capacity in this sector.
I understand from the Industrial Development Authority that the applicant in question first contacted them in November 1979 but that a formal application for grant assistance was not received from him until 4 July 1980. The review of the flour confectionery sector is still in progress but the applicant has been informed that if, as a result of the review, it is decided to resume grants to the sector, his application in so far as it relates to that sector will be considered.