asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he agrees that more concrete practical efforts should be made to aid smaller and medium-sized firms and cooperatives; and the steps if any, he intends to take with this objective in mind.
Written Answers. - Small Industry Development.
431.
The White Paper "Industrial Policy" (Chapter 10, paragraphs 4 to 16 inclusive) published on 12 July sets out the principal new incentives for the development of small industry.
These include:
greater selectivity in the Small Industries Programme; new Linkage Programme; grants will not be paid by the Industrial Development Authority, Shannon Free Airport Development Company and Córas Tráchtála unless companies have effective quality control procedures in operation; use of developments contracts; regionalisation of IDA services to industry; coordination by the IDA of whole range of State agencies offering advice and assistance to small firms; the provision of incubator factories in association with third level colleges; the provision of comprehensive industrial training services for small firms by An Comhairle Oiliúna; and the testing by IDA and CTT of the concept of the development company.
The White Paper (Chapter 6) also contains proposals in the marketing area which will be generally available to small industry. These include initiatives in the following areas: (i) market entry and development; (ii) market research; (iii) group marketing for small exporters; (iv) building marketing strengths in firms; (v) export of services; (vi) warehousing; and (vii) distributor support programmes.
Co-operatives are eligible for the full range of financial incentives and services provided by the industrial development agencies.