Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

What are the plans for the present modulation fund? Will some of it go into the rural development area? Will the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs get his hands on it?

A specific problem has arisen with previous rural development budgets. Leader groups and other agencies have been very involved in developing small indigenous food companies but once those companies reach a certain threshold they no longer fall within the Leader category and, as they do not export, do not fall within the Enterprise Ireland category. They are literally left high and dry by this country's development agencies. Will the Minister assure the House that structures will be put in place to allow us to establish food companies, get them off the ground and support them in the long term? For example, Ireland has 320 artisan food companies whereas New Zealand has 2,000, which has a different structure of supporting and developing them.

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