asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the criteria used by the Industrial Development Authority in grant-aiding the pig slaughtering and processing sector; and whether these criteria coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund in grant-aiding that sector.
Written Answers. - Pig Slaughtering Industry.
25.
Limerick East): The Industrial Development Authority apply the following general criteria in assessing the type of company, in the agricultural processing sector, that will qualify for support:
—companies capable of, and with a commitment to, new product and market development;
—companies of sufficient size and with sufficient resources to operate effectively on export markets; and
—companies which have performed well in the past.
In addition, the authority in grant-aiding the pig slaughtering and processing sector applies the following criteria:
—no project involved in slaughtering will be supported other than under the centralised approach whereby the combined throughput of pigs will reach a minimum of 6,000 per week;
—all facilities must have expert licence standards;
—projects involving the production of new added value products for domestic and export markets will be encouraged;
—all processing projects will be expected to have a strong commitment to export marketing and, where possible, import substitution.
IDA criteria, in grant-aiding the pig slaughtering and processing sector, do not coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. The criteria applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund are set out in Official Journals of the European Communities No. (i) C152 of 10 June 1983, pages 2 to 6 (ii) C56 of 29 February 1984, page 4 and (iii) C78 of 26 March 1985, page 7.