asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will furnish estimates of the total amount currently invested in Ireland by USA firms; the total net profit of these firms for the most recent financial year; and their percentage return on capital invested.

The statistics requested by the Deputy are not prepared by my Department nor by any of the agencies for which I am responsible.

I have, however, seen an estimate prepared by the US Department of Commerce which put the book value of total US industrial investment in Ireland at $897 million, on 31st December, 1976. Earnings in that year, before tax and intercompany loan interest, were estimated at $184 million. The average rate of return was 24 per cent.