Vol. 509 No. 6
481 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the funding sanctioned or paid to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Meitheal Mhaigh Eo Teo; the number of jobs created as a result of the grant assistance; if this project is still trading as a limited liability company; and if assistance was given on this premise. [21227/99]
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that it approved, between 1998 and 1999, a feasibility study grant of £5,000 and a preference share investment of £50,000 in the company in question; no payment has been made to date; the business is, as yet, a relatively new one with one full-time post created to date which is presently temporarily vacant and in respect of which interviews were held last week; it is intended that further posts will be created as the business develops; and the company is operating as a limited liability company.
The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has no responsibility for Meitheal Mhaigh Eo.
482 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the funding sanctioned for a company (details supplied) in County Mayo by Údarás na Gaeltachta; the funding which has been paid out; the grant approval dates; and number of jobs created with this funding. [21228/99]
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that grants of £85,619 were sanctioned for the company in question in 1996; to date grants of £44,397 have been paid; due to the nature of the undertaking its development has been slow; and up to eight persons are employed on a part-time/seasonal basis in the business at present.
483 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the funding from Údarás na Gaeltachta sanctioned or paid to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the number of jobs created; and the number of people employed by the company. [21229/99]
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the company referred to was a subsidiary company of an tÚdarás which ceased operating some years ago and a liquidator was appointed to it in 1995; grants of £48,376 were paid to the company and a sum of £688,300 was invested in shares in it – this information was given in the normal way in the annual reports and accounts of an tÚdarás; and five posts were created in the company at its peak activity.
I should point out that, on the whole, an tÚdarás has been very successful in the pioneering work it has undertaken in relation to developing the marine resources of the Gaeltacht despite the high risk attaching to some of its initiatives.
484 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the funding from Údarás na Gaeltachta sanctioned or paid to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the number of jobs this project created; the number of people employed by the company; if any member of Údarás na Gaeltachta has a personal involvement with this company, is a director of the company or personally derives any benefit, directly or indirectly from the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21230/99]
492 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has satisfied herself that a project (details supplied) in north Mayo is a legitimate registered company under the Companies Act in view of the fact it is a recipient of Údarás na Gaeltachta funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21300/99]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 484 agus 492 le chéile.
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the company in question is a limited company under the Companies Acts; assistance totalling £54,200 in research and development and feasibility grants has been sanctioned for the undertaking in question – in addition 200sq. mts of factory space was leased to the company rent free for the duration of the research period with the factory to be repaired at a cost of £5,000 to an tÚdarás; no assistance has been paid to date; as the undertaking is at the research and development stage, the emphasis is not on employment at present although training is being provided for 20 persons as part of the research programme and four other persons are employed on a part-time basis; no member of an tÚdarás is personally involved in the undertaking or is a director of it; and it has no knowledge of any member of an tÚdarás deriving any benefit from the undertaking.
