asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the proportion, by number and by value of investment, of the foreign industry projects approved by the Government in the past two years which comply with all of the four characteristics laid down in paragraph 8.8 of the White Paper on industrial policy.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Policy Implementation.
23.
Since 1 January 1987 to date a total of 32 overseas industrial projects have been approved by Government for industrial grant assistance. The total proposed eligible fixed asset investment in those projects was £344.2 million.
All overseas projects are assessed in line with the criteria contained in the Industrial Development Act, 1986. The primary purpose of the Act was to give effect to the policy directions and incentives for industry set out in the White Paper on Industrial Policy.
Projects would not necessarily have been expected to meet all four of the characteristics in paragraph 8.8 of the White Paper on Industrial Policy. Projects are approved on the basis that they comply with at least one of the requirements in paragraph 8.8. Ten of the projects approved since 1 January 1987 met all four requirements.
Is the Minister saying that ten of the projects are not only stand alone projects which do not rely to a significant extent on the parent company, but also are projects which can substitute for imports into this country?
Ten of the projects met all the criteria laid down.