asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce how long it takes the Companies Office to approve draft memoranda and articles of association lodged there; the reasons for the growing delays; and what steps will be taken to shorten the period to meet the reasonable requirements of persons seeking to incorporate companies.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Companies Office Delays.
91.
Draft Memoranda and Articles of Association are usually approved by the Companies Office within three to four weeks. Cases which are stated to be urgent are given priority and are generally available within a week.
The reason for the growing delay is the increasing volume of work in the Office. Additional accommodation is being sought as a matter of urgency to enable additional staff to be provided to deal with the increase, and every effort is being made to ensure that the Office is adequately equipped to meet the requirements of persons seeking to incorporate companies.
I should certainly like to pay a tribute to the efficiency and courtesy of the staff in the Companies Office. No reflection was intended in tabling the question. I wonder would the Minister say whether, in arriving at the estimate of an average of three to four weeks, the cases which were given special expedition were brought into consideration? My information and experience is that the normal period for some time past has been up to eight weeks. It should not require that special treatment be given to some people who make particular representations. Everybody should be treated equally and nobody should be taken out of turn. Would the Minister ensure that we would return to the happy situation which he must have experienced in his time in private practice when memoranda would be approved within a fortnight of being lodged without any special representations being made?
The figure of three to four weeks is the figure made available to me in regard to ordinary cases. The period suggested for those where urgent priority is requested is one week. I would agree with the Deputy that it would be more desirable that all cases should be treated in the same way but I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that certain circumstances can arise where, if there was to be a delay of three to four weeks, considerable difficulties could ensue for the people concerned and in those circumstances I would prefer to think that the Companies Office would exercise a discretion and get the cases through faster. The Deputy, I am sure, will appreciate from my reply that the problem is additional accommodation. We cannot fit any more staff into the premises available. We are anxious to locate the Office in the general vicinity of where it is for the convenience of those who deal with the Office. This is being pursued as a matter of urgency but we must get other accommodation before we can increase the size of the staff further.
The Deputy might also be interested to know that the number of new companies registered in recent years has been going up steadily. In 1965 it was 1,157, in the next year 1,166, in the following year 1,359 and last year it was 1,991, which is, of course, a fairly accurate reflection of the increasing prosperity of the economy brought about by this Government.
The Minister does not list the companies that have gone out.
Questions Nos. 92 and 93 postponed.