asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the efforts that have been made to have import substitution in the printing industry.
Written Answers. - Printing Industry Import Substitution.
181.
The Industrial Development Authority is promoting import substitution opportunities in the printing industry by identifying through its inter-company linkage programme product areas in which imports can be replaced from Irish sources. As a result of these efforts a number of Irish companies now supply printing and stationery requirements which were formally imported, to newly established companies. These requirements are principally for companies in the electronics and pharmaceuticals sectors.
While the IDA are not grant-aiding companies within the general printing industry due to overcapacity in the domestic market, they are willing to consider grant assistance where a company can show particular opportunities for import substitution. The Irish Goods Council also assists Irish firms in obtaining new business opportunities. The council through, inter alia, their industrial exhibitions, endeavour to match the spare capacity of existing firms with the requirements of domestic industry.