asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of proposals submitted to his Department from County Limerick under the new scheme of assistance to small industries; whether any of these proposals have already been approved; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the scheme to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Small Industries.
12.
I think it would be undesirable to ask the Industrial Development Authority, who have been entrusted with management of the pilot scheme for a small industries programme, to supply detailed particulars at this stage. The Authority will furnish a report early next year of their experiences during the test period, together with their recommendations as to the eventual form of a programme for small industries. At that stage I would propose to make a full statement to the house. I may say, however, that the pilot scheme has revealed already a field of opportunity for development which is very encouraging. A number of projects have been approved and others are being examined.
In view of the fact that there seems to be a lack of information regarding the facilities now available to the local development association and local enterprise, under the terms of this scheme, would the Minister consider issuing a special explanatory leaflet or brochure which would give information as to what facilities are available, what grants and so forth? I found that the lack of understanding of the actual facilities was quite considerable.
There are two difficulties in the way of the Deputy's suggestion. First of all, the Deputy will recall that this is a pilot scheme. Therefore, any arrangements in operation in respect of it are temporary and may well be changed, so the distribution of a leaflet giving details of this nature—which might be changed, say, within 12 months—could lead to confusion.
The second difficulty is to make contact with the people to whom this is of real interest, and we are endeavouring to cover that by the co-operation of the local authorities and various local voluntary organisations. In the portions of the test areas which are counties which have development teams, an officer of the development team is the liaison officer for that county. Where there is no county development team, the local authority have appointed one of its officers to act as liaison officer. Therefore, in the case of the Deputy's county, Limerick County Council have appointed an officer to act for this purpose. If the Deputy has contact with people who want to make inquiries locally and be dealt with locally, perhaps he would make contact with the county council and it can be dealt with in that way?