andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Agriculture what schemes there are for payment of grants to bacon factories; and if he will give details of such schemes and of the grants which have been approved and made in each of the past three years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Bacon Factories.
16.
My Department operates a scheme of grants for certain works of modernisation in layout and plant at bacon factories. The grants are now at the rate of 50 per cent of the approved cost of the works covered by the scheme.
The grants paid in each of the past three years were as follows:—
Year ended 31st March, 1961: None.
Year ended 31st March, 1962: 14 grants totalling £26,383.2.7.
Year ended 31st March, 1963: 9 grants totalling £22,812.0.2.
Would the Minister clarify the position further? Do the figures he has given take into account the grants given by Foras Tionscal under the Industrial Grants Acts for bacon factories?
I do not think so. I am doubtful if there would be grants from Foras Tionscal, though I cannot say definitely.
May we take it that as far as the Department of Agriculture is concerned, there is one set of grants available for bacon factories and that in the undeveloped areas, there is a separate scheme whereby grants can be made available to bacon factories?
In these cases, no grants are paid by Foras Tionscal.
Is the Minister aware that apart from the grants he has mentioned, Foras Tionscal are paying substantial grants to bacon factories, particularly in the city of Dublin, and that the Department of Agriculture are supposed to be giving these grants for the benefit of agriculture?
Grants are not paid by both parties.
Can we take it that a grant here in Dublin of £200,000 was approved last year for a particular bacon factory at a time when it was impossible in rural Ireland to get a grant in order to put a bacon industry on its feet?
No. That is a separate question.
I have asked the Minister for Agriculture to give full information. Is it true that the Minister is not in possession of the facts?
I have given all the information the Minister for Agriculture gave me.
But the information the Minister for Agriculture has given does not show the full position with regard to the giving out of grants to bacon factories.