asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any obligation has been imposed on firms who have established themselves in the State since 1957 (a) to provide any, and if so, what proportion of the capital involved in such establishments, and (b) to train and employ any, and if so, what proportion of Irish workers; and how such obligation is enforceable and has been enforced.
Written Answers. - Capital of Industrial Firms.
78.
In grant and loan-aided projects, the promoters are required to make a cash investment equivalent to a substantial proportion of the cost of the fixed assets. Each case is considered on its merits and the actual proportion could vary somewhat as between different cases. This requirement is enforced by requiring the promoters to make their investment before the grant is paid.
There is no obligation imposed on incoming firms to employ and/or train a specific proportion of Irish workers. The great majority of such firms come here because of shortage of labour in their own countries and for that reason they are anxious to employ as high a proportion of Irish workers as possible and to bring over as few as possible of their own personnel for as short a period as possible. In many cases the incoming firms take Irish workers abroad for training.