asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when it is intended to build the fish meal factory in Dinish Island, Castletownbere, County Cork.

I understand from the Industrial Development Authority that the promoters of the project are re-examining the situation in the light of substantially increased costs. Pending the result of this examination, I cannot say when the factory is likely to be built.

The people there have been waiting for this development for a number of years. It was said that this factory would be in operation early this year. There is no sign of any building there. Is it the intention to put it up immediately?

As I have just said, the promoters of the project are at present re-examining the situation in the light of substantially increased costs. At no stage was there an indication given that the building would commence at the beginning of this year.

Is there an implication in the Minister's reply that there is some doubt about the project now?

Yes.

It is all over. It is finished.

Was it not agreed by all concerned that Dinish Island would be a suitable location for this plant? I hear a great deal of credit being given to the Fishery Board for the work they put into this project. Are we to understand now that by virtue of the Minister's refusal, possibly, to give grants there is a possibility that it is to be abandoned? This is the first I heard of abandonment.

I did not say anything about abandonment.

The Minister said increased costs necessitated a review of the position. I think that is a nice way of posing the question of abandonment.

There is no question at all of the IDA refusing any grant to this project. The promoters of the project are at present re-examining the situation in the light of substantially increased potential costs of getting this project off the ground. There is no question of its abandonment but there is, arising from the projected increased costs, a greater difficulty for the promoters in making up their minds at this stage in view of the fact that there was a problem about procuring the island for the project originally. This delayed the promoters in getting ahead with the job and costs have increased in the meantime.

Is the Minister saying that the IDA or the Department of Industry and Commerce are not responsible for holding up the job by refusing to give the grants?

That is a separate question.

The IDA are not responsible. They are most anxious to see the project going ahead.