asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism in view of the continuing increase in imports of building bricks, the steps he proposes to take to encourage home manufacturers to increase their production capacity to meet the demand.

I understand that total imports of building bricks have shown a significant reduction over the past two years. Substantial State assistance has been provided in recent years to Irish manufacturers of building bricks to install new plant in order to increase capacity and to meet changing market demand.

I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that there is a considerable amount of unused home production capacity in this sector. This situation has been aggravated by the recession in the construction industry and competition from imports, especially from Northern Ireland. Accordingly, it would not now be appropriate for the State to encourage home manufacturers to increase production capacity for building bricks generally.

While there is a substantial reduction, would the Minister agree that up to 1981-82 there was a continuous high volume increase in importation of bricks and that there is still room for much more production here?

I accept what the Deputy said with regard to production capacity which is under-utilised at present. I understand that the total quantity of building bricks imported decreased from 18.2 million in 1981 to 10.6 million in 1983, a substantial reduction.

Could the Minister give the increased figures as recorded in An Foras Forbartha Report for 1981-82?

I do not have those figures.

That is a separate question.

16.