asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of applications for grants for industrial development received in the past eight years by An Foras Tionscal for the establishment of industries in the town of Ballina, County Mayo, and the amount paid each year towards industries established or about to be established there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Industrial Development Grants.
36.
The Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952, provides for the submission by An Foras Tionscal of an Annual Report to be presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Annual Reports for the period 22nd January, 1952, to 31st March, 1961, show the amount of grant approved and the amount paid during the year in respect of each undertaking assisted and the location of the undertaking. The reports also contain, but on a county by county basis, the number of definitive applications for grants received during the year and the number approved. I do not think it desirable that I should ask An Foras Tionscal to furnish information other than that included in the Annual Report or in advance of the publication of the Report.
Could the Minister tell us how many factories that got grants have closed?
There were two. This matter was raised during the course of the recent debate on a Supplementary Estimate. In effect, only two factories are known to the Department of Industry and Commerce or Foras Tionscal as having closed. It has been tried to create the impression that there was a wholesale closing down.
When will the report be available?
It would cover the period up to the end of this month.
Is it expected shortly?
The current period has not run out yet and it will be expected shortly after the end of the current period.
Would the Minister prevail on the Industrial Development Authority to cease exaggerating the numbers employed in certain localities? I know of an instance where it was indicated to industrialists who sought to establish an industry in a particular town in my constituency that there were 20 already employed in industry there, whereas the number is five. It is rather unfair to the locality.
Is it not unfair to the I.D.A. to make charges like that?
These matters do not arise at all.