Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grants to Pierome Group.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

276 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount and purpose of Forbairt grants to the Pierome Group, including Monaghan Mushrooms, and its transport subsidiary, PDL; if he will give details of the complaints of unfair competition received from the Irish Road Hauliers Association and individual hauliers; if a complaint has been made to the EU Competition Commissioner in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the Government's approval in July 1996, on the recommendation of Forbairt, of grant assistance to Pleroma Distribution Limited, for the establishment of a logistics and data processing facility in Dublin.

This facility will control Pleroma's transport and distribution network. No assistance has been provided for the transport and distribution aspect of Pleroma's total investment. In accordance with normal practice, details of grants as they are paid to the company will be available at the end of Forbairt's accounting year.

I have not received any complaints of unfair competition from the Irish Road Hauliers Association or from any other source.