Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This seems to be ignored in discussions on dairy expansion. It is time for people within the industry, government, farming organisations and agencies such as Enterprise Ireland to take off the blinkers and recognise that there is huge potential for the development of the dairy industry in the west and north west. Scale is an issue and that will be a challenge but we need to support the development of projects such as the cheese project proposed by the creameries in the west and north west. They wanted to come together to develop a cheese manufacturing facility.

Sadly, the Minister at the time, Mary Coughlan, did not facilitate that project to allow it to go ahead. I think it would have had a huge impact in our part of the country. It has been projected that milk supply will grow by between one quarter and one third in the west and north west. That will be supported by the Aurivo plant in Ballaghaderreen. As a result of the significant investment that has been made at the plant, the company now supports 150 milk manufacturing jobs in the area and exports to 50 countries around the world.

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