asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he has taken any decisions on future state funding for NET; if any decisions have been made on the recommnendations of the consultancy report on the future of NET; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NET Funding.
22.
The Consultancy report referred to by the Deputy was commissioned to assist the inter-departmental committee set up by the Government to review options for the future operations of NET. This committee have now reported to me. Arising from the committee's report I intend, in the near future, to make proposals to the Government concerning NET. Until such time as the Government have considered these proposals, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further statement in the matter.
Will the Minister say when he received the report from the inter-departmental committee? Further, will he say if he has made any provision in this year's non-programme outlays for additional State equity in NET?
The consultancy report was not made to me but to an inter-departmental committee. The committee made their report to me about three months ago, although I do not wish to be categoric about that. Almost immediately after that there was a major change internationally in the price of ammonia and this, to a large extent, removed the basis on which much of the report had been based. The assessment I am presenting to the Government is one that is based on the new facts rather than solely on the consultants' report or the report of the inter departmental committee.
I refer the Minister to my second question which asked if he had made any provision in this year's Estimates for additional money for NET?
The provision of finance for NET is a matter that will be dealt with by the Government on foot of my recommendations in the relatively near future. It would be premature at this stage to speak about the amount of money required or the method whereby that would be provided. If it is to be provided in the form of capital, clearly it would have to be found within the confines of the budget but if, on the other hand, there was to be an extension of guaranteed borrowings the situation would be different. However, I do not wish to get involved in a detailed discussion on the financial provision until the decisions in principle have been taken by the Government.
I cannot understand the reluctance of the Minister to tell me if provision has been made in this year's budget for the taking of further State equity in NET. Surely that information is available?
My recollection is that the provision in respect of non-programme outlays which the Government made was a general one which did not specify individual plants. The division of the money in question during the year is to be a matter for decision from time to time by the Government. The provision or otherwise of a particular item for NET has no implications one way or the other.
I cannot understand the Minister's reluctance to give me the information I sought. In bringing together the total for non-programme outlays, either he made a submission to the Government in relation to NET or he did not. All I want is a straight answer, yes or no.
The needs of NET are not possible to determine until the Government make their decision and were not possible to determine at the time of preparation of the budget for the same reason but they are borne in mind in the setting of the global figure for non-programme outlays. However, a specific figure was not pencilled in, either explicitly or implicitly, because to do so would not be meaningful until decisions were taken regarding the future of NET.
So it is just a question of pulling a figure out of the air?
I am calling Question No. 23.