asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state as at 31st March, 1961 the financial commitments of An Foras Tionscal in respect of industrial projects (a) in the undeveloped areas and (b) in other areas, the total capital investment involved in such projects, and the employment expected to be given by them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Projects: Foras Tionscal Commitments.
13.
The Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, and the Industrial Grants Act, 1959, provide for the submission by An Foras Tionscal of an annual report to be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas and I have indicated in reply to previous questions that I do not think it desirable that An Foras Tionscal should be asked to furnish information other than that included in the Annual Report or in advance of publication of the Report. I hope, however, to have an opportunity shortly of giving the House a general picture of the activity of An Foras Tionscal, during the year ended 31st March, 1961, when the Estimate for my Department is being presented.
Surely the Minister is carrying too far the doctrine that he finds himself precluded from answering a question such as part (b) of this question which specifically asks as to whether Foras Tionscal have accepted financial commitments in areas other than areas originally scheduled in the Act as undeveloped areas? Surely there is nothing against him saying that An Foras Tionscal have undertaken commitments outside the undeveloped areas?
There is nothing against saying that An Foras Tionscal have undertaken commitments outside the undeveloped areas but it is not desirable that details be disclosed in advance of such projects. The Deputy will be aware that nothing is more conducive to the failure of an industrial proposal than too much advance publicity.
But the Minister does say that he has included certain areas outside the undeveloped areas in the operations of An Foras Tionscal.
It is true that on a number of occasions there have been scheduled areas which are contiguous to the undeveloped areas.
An Foras Tionscal cover all.
The Minister appreciates that the report is very late.
Yes, and I have been urging them to hurry it up.