Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The agrifood sector has exposure to the UK market, which accounts for almost 40% of our exports, and if smaller and artisan producers want to put their toe in the water to export, the UK is the logical and obvious place to go. They are particularly challenged, and very often they do not have in-house expertise or resources to navigate all of the challenges. This is why considerable effort has been made by State agencies, including Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, to, in a way, handhold, reach out and assist these industries to prepare, to look at market diversification opportunities and to look at how they can navigate the challenges in their supply chain logistics, particularly because the sterling impact will be immediate. This is detailed work, which has been informed by the stakeholder consultation. The responses of agencies such as Bord Bia has been to tailor products to meet the specific needs of individual companies.

On the loan scheme, 40% of the existing €300 million working capital scheme is ring-fenced for small and medium-sized agrifood enterprises, including artisan food producers, because of the Department's contribution. It has only been on the market since earlier in the year and the drawdown is beginning to accelerate. It will be available over a number of years. I am anxious that awareness and access will improve in the coming weeks.

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