asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the plans, if any, to establish an Irish agricultural engineering business, in view of the volume of imports in that sector.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Engineering Business.
11.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the manufacture of agricultural machinery. There is already a number of Irish firms engaged in the manufacture of a range of these products for the Irish market. It is clear from the level of imports that there is still much scope for Irish manufacturers to increase substantially their share of the Irish market particularly in the supply of agricultural machinery within the lower and medium technology range. Over the past few years the Industrial Development Authority has been studying the sector to identify specific opportunities for Irish manufacturers and a number of projects in this area have received grant assistance from the Industrial Development Authority.
The Authority and the National Board for Science and Technology propose to undertake shortly a joint study of the agricultural machinery industry to establish a strategy for the future expansion of the industry in order that, as far as possible, imports can be replaced by home production.
Would the Minister consider the possibility of setting up an agency similar to the agricultural trust in Northern Ireland which has carried out research on a machine which had been developed here but not brought to fruition here? It might be a useful addition to technology in this area.
The study which the IDA and NBST are about to undertake shortly will be helpful in identifying possibilities.
Will be Minister investigate what is being done by the agricultural trust in Northern Ireland and see if it will be useful?
I will.