IDA grants for service industries
The Minister said export-oriented service industries can receive IDA grants anywhere in the country, a policy in place since July 1973. Irish firms are eligible; 28 projects had been approved, and the Minister said the scheme was contributing to exports and invisible earnings.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if IDA grants are now available for service industries setting up in Dublin or elsewhere in the country.
Comment on this
IDA grants are available for export-oriented service industries in any area of the country.
Comment on this
Are any such grants being paid at present and may an Irish service company qualify for these grants?
Comment on this
Yes, and Irish companies may so qualify. Of the total of 28 approvals to date, and included in this are the first four months of 1976, eight were Irish. There was potential employment of 2,043, of which 288 were Irish.
Comment on this
Can the Minister say if those approved were justified in the light of performance? In other words, were they really export-oriented? I am aware that it may be necessary to table a separate question in order to get this information.
Comment on this
The extension of IDA grants to the service areas has been a matter of particular interest to me. This extension has produced very satisfactory results in terms of exports. Some of the firms concerned are oriented solely towards the export market and, apart from the quality of employment and the bringing to the country of technological know-how, there has been a significant contribution to invisible earnings. I cannot give more detail than that.
15.