asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which the Government submitted an application to the Commission of the European Community for loan assistance from the funds of the European Coal and Steel Community; the amount sought in such application; and the amount allocated in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ECSC Loan Assistance Fund.
42.
The Government have made two applications for loan assistance from the funds of the European Coal and Steel Community:
(1) On 8th October, 1973, the Government applied for assistance towards the building and modernisation of houses for coalminers working in the Arigna mines and employees of Irish Steel Holdings Ltd., Haulbowline, County Cork. Assistance was requested towards the construction of 96 new houses and the modernisation of approximately 100 existing houses. The Government applied for long-term loans of £153,800 at 1 per cent interest per annum and £159,880 at 7½ per cent per annum. The commission in December, 1973, approved a long-term loan of £208,335 at 1 per cent interest per annum, repayable over a period of 25 years.
That is the first application.
(2) On 27th June, 1974, the Government applied for a loan from the European Coal and Steel Community funds of two million units of account for the purpose of supporting four industrial enterprises in the Ballingarry area of Limerick/ Tipperary (S.R.), which it is hoped will provide employment to many of the redundant coal miners.
The commission has not yet formally expressed an opinion on this second application.
I take it from the reply that only one application was submitted in 1973 and that that was the subject of a question last year between the Minister for Local Government and I and that again, this year, only one application has been submitted.
I have indicated what was the fate of the first application. The fate of the second application has not been determined yet but the Department are optimistic of a positive and early result.
Can the Minister say if the Government will activate a greater sense of urgency in regard to applications for assistance from this fund, having regard to the fact that in the first year while we were getting an amount of the order of £350,000 by way of loan, countries such as France and Italy were getting at least between £16 and £17 million? We find that this year the Government have submitted only one application and that that involves £1 million. Would the Government be prepared to consider the broad range of assistance available from these funds and to submit appropriate applications?
I shall convey the Deputy's remarks to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Can the Minister say whether any money has been received from the fund for the purposes of dealing with the housing problems of coal and steel workers in Cobh?
The only data I have here in this regard shows that in December, 1973, the Commission approved a long-term loan of £208,335 but I do not know whether that has become payable yet.
Can the Minister say what amount, if any, has been granted by way of housing loans to steel and coal workers in Haulbowline and Cobh?
That is a separate question. The question that was tabled is a global one.
Haulbowline steel industries are not so global.
The employees in question come under (1) of my reply, that is to say the application to the European Coal and Steel Community which has been approved. I take it that the fund will be available shortly.
Are the Government not aware of the funds that are available from the Commission for the development of harbours at places such as Cobh, Foynes or anywhere else that is related in any way to the production of coal and steel?