asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if the IDA are proceeding with the decision to promote industrial co-operatives.

I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that they have assisted industrial workers' co-operatives in the past and the majority of these continue to trade successfully. At present the IDA are negotiating with a number of workers' co-operatives in relation to potential take-over proposals. Proposals by co-operatives are eligible for the full range of IDA financed assistance and services.

Will Cork Art Pottery come into the category which he has just supplied?

It is not among those in existence at the moment. The following industrial co-operatives are in existence, which have been supported by the IDA: Crannach in Navan, Navan Bedding Company also in Navan, the Inner City Co-operative in Dublin, The Irish Spring Unit Co-Operative Society in Dundalk and Belco Sports in Killala. There are a number of proposals for other co-operatives under active consideration, one of which is that referred to by the Deputy.

So Cork Art Pottery is being considered as an industrial co-operative?

Yes.