asked the Minister for Finance if he has noted the Belgian Government's project for the creation of employment zones; if so, if he proposes to take a similar initiative here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Employment Zones .
42.
Mr. Leonard
: I am aware of the Belgian Government's proposed employment zones in which tax-exemptions will be provided to new companies engaging in certain advanced technology activities.
Our system of industrial incentives includes a wide range of tax reliefs and direct grants, available on a nation-wide basis, designed to stimulate investment, output and employment in manufacturing industry. In these circumstances I do not propose any initiative similar to the proposed Belgian zones.
Mr. Leonard
: Would the Minister not consider operating a trial scheme in Border areas which have suffered as the result of the Government's policy in certain areas recently?
: As I said in reply to the previous question, a suggestion has been made which was designed to look for ways to stimulate economic activity in Border areas. This is something I and the Government will look at with some interest. If new methods can be proposed we will look at them, particularly since we are reviewing overall industrial incentives. What the Deputy has in mind is a more localised kind of operation. I am not sure that, in order to secure that specific objective, it would be necessary to replicate a scheme which has only just started in Belgium without seeing how it operates there. From the details I have of the scheme it might not be suitable for what the Deputy has in mind.
Mr. Leonard
: This project was approved by the EEC and could attract funding from the Commission. Would the Minister not agree that as well as having a trial period we could secure funding from the Commission for it?
: The Belgian scheme might not be entirely suitable for the needs of the area the Deputy has in mind. Based on my information about the scheme, it would not necessarily be the case that EEC funding would be available for these projects. Essentially the Belgian Government got agreement from the EEC to allow them to do a number of things which would not necessarily attract EEC funding. The Deputy may be reading more into the scheme than is actually there.