Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Written Answers. - Consumer's Association Funding.

Phil Hogan

Question:

170 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to increase the grant aid to the Consumers' Association of Ireland in view of the establishment of a consumer policy service within the community and the need for strengthening the support for consumer organisations within the EC generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. O'Malley)

I have not received an application for funding for 1992 from the Consumers' Association of Ireland nor is there any provision under my Department's Vote for making such funding available.

The primary source of grant-aid funding for the Consumer's Association of Ireland in recent years has been through the European Commission and I understand that the association have made application for further substantial funding from that source for the current year.

When it became known in July 1991 that it was proposed to cut the EC consumer budget from 10.8 million to 4.3 million ECUs, which would have had serious implications for the financing of the Consumer's Association of Ireland, I, together with the Minister for Finance, sought to have this cut rescinded.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the EC consumer budget for 1992 has been fixed at 19.2 million ECUs from which, as in previous years, the Consumer's Association of Ireland stand to benefit.