asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce in connection with each of the three new factories under construction in Galway City (a) the total capital cost, (b) the amount of State grants and loans, (c) the amount of local contribution and (d) the amount provided by foreign capital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway New Factories.
56.
Grants are made by An Foras Tionscal on their own responsibility and information as to the grants given is set out in their Annual Reports which are presented to the Oireachtas. I have already stated in reply to previous questions that I am not prepared to ask that body to supply information about grants for publication in advance of their reports, nor do I consider that they should be asked to give additional information about the private affairs of companies.
When the Minister mentions the private affairs of companies, is he not prepared to consider the fact that the taxpayers' money is being handed over to these companies? Surely the public are entitled to some information at least with regard to the amount of public money received and the amount of foreign capital invested in general? Without giving the specific figure for X company or Y company, could he not give a broad figure covering the group?
I understand it would be extremely difficult to get private companies to engage in industry if information of a purely private kind were made available to the House. It has not been the custom to make these reports available.
Would the Minister ask An Foras Tionscal to state in regard to the foreign capital whether that is provided in the form of cash or machinery, obsolete or otherwise, imported from abroad?
I imagine that information comes within the private information which is not generally disclosed to the House.
Does the Minister think it appropriate that, though the State is making loans and grants in the form of cash, it is not entitled to information in regard to the foreign capital participation, whether that participation is provided in the form of cash or equipment, the provenance and condition of which it is impossible to know with any degree of accuracy?
I think the Deputy should know that the Industrial Development Authority and An Foras Tionscal take great care in estimating the desirability of the grant and assessing as to how far the machinery is up-to-date. All the circumstances in connection with the new industry are taken fully into account and I think An Foras Tionscal should be left the responsibility of making the decision.