asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether Córas Tráchtála, under the plan for aiding Irish firms to improve their industrial design by the employment of foreign consultants and the training abroad of Irish consultants and designers, are empowered to give financial aid to Irish designers studying abroad who have not previously been employed by Irish firms at home; whether they have received applications for any such aid from Irish design students abroad; and whether, if they are not at present empowered to help such designers, he will take steps to empower them to institute a plan whereby Irish student designers would be helped to study abroad on condition that they guaranteed to return to work in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Irish Student Designers.
15.
Córas Tráchtála have in operation a scheme for aiding Irish firms to improve the standard of industrial design. Grants under the scheme are, however, made available only in the case of designers who are already employed in industry. Arrangements for the training abroad of student designers would be outside the functions of Córas Tráchtála and it would not be possible, therefore, to extend the scheme to cover design students. In the circumstances, Córas Tráchtála have not been able to accede to applications for assistance made on behalf of design students.