James Leonard
Ceist:50 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the percentage of bovine animal hides produced in this country which were fully processed in 1991; and the plans, if any, he has to increase tanning capacity.
Written Answers. - Bovine Animal Hides Processing.
At present there is no company in Ireland fully processing bovine hides from the raw state to finished leather. The IDA estimate that, for 1991 and currently, less than 20 per cent of bovine animal hides are part processed in Ireland, i.e. beyond the prime salted condition.
As indicated previously the IDA continues to pursue its objective to increase the level of processing consistent with the pattern of supplies available, market conditions and demand for processed as against unprocessed hides. In this regard the IDA has approved two new projects in the Bovine Leather Sector and as a result it is expected that the percentage of part-processed bovine hides will increase within the next three to four years.