Vol. 355 No. 7
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if, as a matter of urgency, he will have proposals by a company (details supplied) in Dublin 3 to move grant-aided machinery out of the State from its premises investigated particularly in view of the likelihood of redundancies among the workforce accompanying this move.
410.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will detail all the assistance by way of grants given to a company (details supplied) by the Industrial Development Authority.
I understand from the IDA that it has been advised by the company in question that because of substantial over-capacity in certain sections of its operations, it is considering the transfer to an associate company in Northern Ireland of a particular machine which has not been in regular use for some time. It has been made clear to the company that, if it were to proceed with the transfer, as proposed, the question would arise of repayment to the IDA of the grant involved. The over-capacity problem affecting the company is, I understand, due to severe trading difficulties and continuing losses experienced in recent years. These difficulties have already led to a reduction in the workforce and, regrettably, further redundancies are to take effect from Friday next, 8 February 1985. I understand the latter redundancies are not directly connected with the fate of the machine referred to by the Deputy.
I am informed that the total grants paid to the company by IDA amount to £569,209 (capital grants £554,783; training grants £14,421).
