asked the Minister for Industry and Energy when a company (details supplied) will avail itself of the finances approved by the IDA and Fóir Teoranta; and when it will reopen.

: I presume the Deputy is referring to the financial assistance approved for the company by the IDA and Fóir Teoranta in 1982. The company have not so far availed of this financial assistance. The company's position, and in particular the market situation for their products, is at present being reviewed by consultants. Pending the outcome of this review, which is expected to take some weeks to complete, a decision regarding the re-opening of the factory will not be possible.

: Is the money still available?

: As soon as the consultants' report comes to hand that matter will be considered. In principle, I expect the money to be still available.

: Who has employed those consultants, the company or the Department?

: The IDA and the company agreed to have this assessment of the market situation made by the same consultants who carried out the earlier consultancy.

: Can the Minister give any idea about any discussions which he or anybody in his department might have had with the parent company in Milan about what the immediate prospects are of reopening this plant which employed 400 people in Sligo?

: The Deputy will appreciate that we will have to await the report from the consultants before a final decision can be made by the parent company in Italy. The final decision rests with them, but I can assure the Deputy that the Department and the IDA will take all necessary steps to promote the reopening of the company.

: There were no such conditions attached to the sanction of this financial package by the IDA and Fóir Teoranta. Is the Minister aware that the factory did not close until some months later? When did the consultation suggestion arise or is this just a smokescreen? Will the Minister confirm or deny the suggestion that the factory will not be reopened?

: The factory was closed in August 1982 and the decision to have a further assessment was taken at a meeting on 1 February 1983. That decision was initiated by the company.

: Can the Minister tell the work force, first of all, when the consultative report will be received and when the final decision will be taken? Is it the intention of the company to pay the employees redundancy money?

: I understand that the report will not be available for some weeks and the final decision in regard to redundancy will not be made until the report comes to hand. The final decision in relation to reopening rests with the parent company in Italy. I can assure the Deputy that the Department and the IDA are doing everything in their power to promote reopening.