asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the progress that has been made with a view to re-opening Ardmore Studios, Bray, County Wicklow, as a film-making centre.

No substantive progress has yet been made with a view to re-opening Ardmore Studios as a film-making centre. This Government have continued the policy adopted by their predecessors of attempting to find a serious purchaser who would maintain the film facilities, and while hopes were raised on a number of occassions, with the liquidator engaging in negotiations which seemed likely to be fruitful, it must be admitted that current prospects in this regard are not good.

I am currently considering what alternative course of action might be adopted to achieve the objective desired at no further cost to the taxpayer.