51 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the guidelines that were given to Forbairt in respect of grants to indigenous industries.

56 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the guidelines that were given to Forbairt in respect of grants to indigenous industries.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 56 together.

The principal guidelines governing grants to indigenous industry are contained in the Industrial Development Acts, 1986 to 1993. Since its establishment on 1 January 1994 these guidelines have applied to Forbairt.

In addition to the legislative guidelines referred to, negotiating guidelines exist, the purpose of which is to assist project officers in evaluating and giving grant indications on specific projects. These guidelines, which are reviewed annually, reflect the legislative guidelines and policy changes made from time to time and, in order to facilitate a smooth transition to the new agency, Forbairt has been operating under the 1993 guidelines pending their detailed consideration by the new board.

New guidelines will require the approval of my Department and, of course, are strictly confidential.