asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will extend the remit for IDA assistance to people who wish to start up service industries which would not affect existing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - IDA Assistance.
77.
I do not propose at present to extend the remit of IDA to provide direct assistance to persons establishing domestic service industries. In my view, developmental policies should concentrate, as much as possible, scarce national resources on the internationally traded sectors of the economy. I believe that the measures taken by the Government to improve the competitiveness of the Irish economy should ensure that the services sector continues its vibrant growth of recent years as evidenced by the increase of 10,000 in services employment in the year to last April.