asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce in view of the fact that the Government have discontinued the practice of having a representative of the IDA on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta, if he would indicate the co-ordination which now exists between both organisations for job creation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Údarás na Gaeltachta / IDA Job Creation.
11.
(Limerick East): There is formal consultation between Roinn na Gaeltachta and my Department — in which process the IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta would be involved — on the processing of applications for grant assistance above certain levels. Additionally there is on-going consultation and co-ordination of effort between the Industrial Development Authority and Údarás na Gaeltachta with a view to the creation and maintenance of jobs within their respective areas of responsibility.
Regular formal meetings take place at managing director/chief executive and at senior management levels at which matters of common interest or difficulty are discussed. In addition, both organisations are represented on county development teams and on the small industry policy committee.
Will the Minister agree that the decision not to have a representative of the IDA on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta is having an adverse effect in that 900 jobs in new products agreed by the board of Údarás cannot proceed because of a lack of funds? What does the Minister propose to do about this?
(Limerick East): I do not accept what the Deputy has said but the House will note that the Deputy is asking me to reply to a question about Údarás na Gaeltachta, an area which is not my responsibility. That is a matter for the Minister for the Gaeltacht.
Surely the creation of jobs is something the Minister is concerned with? If the Minister is not aware of the position I am telling him that the jobs are there. Will the Minister acknowledge that the decision to discontinue the practice of having a representative of the IDA on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta was a mistake? The board have 900 jobs to be taken up this year but that cannot be done because of the failure to appoint the IDA representative to the board of Údarás. Will the Minister agree that the co-operation that existed between Údarás na Gaeltachta and the IDA when there was a representative of the IDA on the board resulted in great achievements? Will he agree that if a representative of the IDA was appointed to the board of Údarás the good results would continue during 1986?
(Limerick East): No, I would not.
Will the Minister tell the House if the practice that has been in existence for a number of years has been discontinued? Was there any good reason for not having a representative of the IDA on the board of Údarás?
(Limerick East): Údarás na Gaeltachta are responsible to the Minister for the Gaeltacht. Board appointments to Údarás are not a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce and I suggest that if Deputies want to question appointments to that board they should table a question to the appropriate Minister.
I do not think the Minister should treat this so flippantly. Surely the appointment of people to the boards of semi-State bodies are Government decisions? Is there any reason why a representative of the IDA was not appointed to the board of Údarás for the first time?
The Minister has answered that question.
The Minister has not given me a definite answer.
He has answered the question by referring the Deputy to another Minister.
Will the Minister accept that having a member of the IDA on the board of the Údarás would make for far better co-ordination in the creation of jobs?
(Limerick East): There is excellent co-ordination, as I outlined in my reply.
Is it not true that when all the cronies of Fine Gael Deputies who were putting pressure on the Minister for the Gaeltacht were satisfied there was no room for a representative of the IDA, that that is all the Government were interested in?
Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Finance last Friday suggested that if Údarás na Gaeltachta were short of money, as they are at the moment, not having money to provide 800 jobs in the Gaeltacht, they should work in conjunction with the IDA who would make money available to them? I understand, though, that no direction has been given by the Minister for Finance or by the Minister now in the House to that effect. If there is not an IDA board member on the Údarás it is very difficult to accept how there can be co-ordination. In view of the recommendation of his colleague, would the Minister consider asking the Minister for the Gaeltacht to appoint an IDA board member of Údarás na Gaeltachta?
(Limerick East): These are all matters for the Minister for the Gaeltacht who has responsibility in these matters.
The Minister for Finance has suggested that moneys could be made available to the Údarás by the IDA. Surely that is a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce who has responsibility for the Twenty-six Counties, including the Gaeltacht.
Is the Minister satisfied that the co-ordination he spoke about between the IDA and the Údarás is operating? Will he agree that if that were so the 900 jobs which are not being proceeded with must indicate there is lack of co-ordination? The Údarás cannot go ahead with the 900 jobs, so how, therefore, can the Minister say there has been successful co-ordination?
(Limerick East): I indicated in my reply that co-ordination is on-going at four different levels. I refer the Deputy to my reply.