asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the total amount of money paid to industry by the IDA, by way of capital grants, since its inception.

As I indicated in reply to a similar question on 25 October last, full information about grants paid by the Industrial Development Authority is published in the authority's annual reports, copies of which are presented to the Oireachtas. Final figures for 1979 are not yet available but these will also be published in accordance with the established practice.

Is the Minister saying that, instead of requiring his civil servants to supply this information, he will put the onus of work on the over-worked librarians of this House to chase up the simple information I looked for?

Or the Deputy.

In the light of the rise in unemployment figures, would the Minister accept that we are getting value from this money being handed out by the IDA?

Excellent value.

In spite of the unemployment figures?

The unemployment figures are relatively good.

Question No. 25. We are not dealing with unemployment figures.

This country is the only country in the Community in which net industrial employment is increasing.

Would the Minister accept that many of these grant-aided industries may be putting people out of work?

Their principal purpose is to create employment.