Mr. Padraig Brennan:

Yes, we work quite closely with local enterprise offices to support new businesses through that network initially. Through our Food Works programme, which we run with Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, we identify a number of high-potential start-ups that we can help and work intensively with over a period of 12 to 15 months to help them get ready to go to market with their product.

Approximately 70 companies have gone through the Food Works programme in recent years. As companies get up and running, they can avail of the full range of Bord Bia services whenever they are ready.

I referred to our plan to grow services and work with companies on a more individual basis. That new range of services is available to companies that are growing strongly or are facing particular challenges. It involves sitting down with each company, helping it to develop, refine and implement a marketing strategy that fits its business and, during the implementation phase, feeding into it the services that we have on offer in various markets, be that the local market in Ireland, the European market or the market further afield. That is the type of structure that we are bringing to such work.