asked the Minister for Labour the Government's policy in respect of industrial workers' co-operatives.

12.

asked the Minister for Labour the Government's policy in relation to the encouragement of local co-operatives involved in the creation of jobs.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The Government's approach to co-operatives, including industrial workers' co-operatives, is that they would welcome the establishment of such enterprises not only as a means of creating jobs but also as a way of promoting valuable experiments in the area of industrial democracy involving worker participation in the fullest sense of that term.

Such ventures, including those operated wholly or partly for the benefit of their workers, may qualify for all State aids which are available to businesses generally.

Will the Minister consider proposals with a view to encouraging local co-operatives involving people not presently concerned in industry to try to create job opportunities in the areas? Will he consider putting some kind of financial incentives before them, which may not exist at the moment, as an extra inducement?

I would welcome any approach from any group where there were job creation prospects, in other words, the services in my Department would be available to them. As I have already stated, provided normal qualifications are met, all State aids available generally to business would be available in those cases.

Would the Minister welcome approaches from people who might be considering the possibility of setting up a local co-operative and would he do his best to help them financially and give them every possible encouragement?

I would welcome any approaches from groups where there were job creation possibilities and would assist them in any practical way open to me.