Written answers
Wednesday, 2 March 2005
Department of Agriculture and Food
Food Industry
9:00 pm
Jimmy Devins (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on progress being made under the food institutional research programme. [6871/05]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The food institutional research measure, FIRM, forms part the productive sector operational programme of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The main objectives of FIRM are to provide a base of information and expertise in generic technologies that supports innovation and product development in the food industry, and assists in assuring consumer protection by ensuring that product development is underpinned by attention to food safety and quality issues.
Progress under the measure has been very satisfactory with 110 projects awarded funding following general calls in 2000 and 2004 and a targeted call in 2001.
The table provided shows awards and expenditure under the various research themes to date.
| Theme | No. of projects | Total Awards (€m) 2000-2004 | Expenditure (€m) 2000-2004 |
| Consumer Foods | 17 | 7.745 | 4.802 |
| Dairy | 15 | 8.152 | 4.046 |
| DNA Technology | 5 | 2.167 | 1.267 |
| Food Ingredients | 7 | 3.207 | 2.854 |
| Food Safety | 17 | 8.057 | 6.604 |
| Food Viruses | 2 | 0.947 | 0.776 |
| Food Waste | 3 | 0.607 | 0.213 |
| Meat | 16 | 6.919 | 2.996 |
| Miscellaneous | 17 | 6.457 | 3.672 |
| Nutrition | 4 | 2.539 | 2.387 |
| Process Design | 3 | 1.380 | 1.267 |
| Residues | 2 | 0.630 | 0.430 |
| TSE | 2 | 1.198 | 0.772 |
| Total | 110 | 50.005 | 32.086 |
A further 11 projects with indicative funding of €5.6 million have received preliminary approval and notification of awards in respect of these are currently being finalised.
The FIRM programme has encouraged high-quality research outputs and outcomes across a range of food science disciplines. In so doing, the measure has supported the building of a substantial base of highly qualified researchers at doctorate and post-doctorate level, whose proven research capacity is attractive to the agri-food industry.
The opportunities offered by such public good food research programmes have contributed to the formation of recognised centres of excellence in food research in Ireland and this in turn has been instrumental in researchers gaining access to EU and national funded research programmes. A number of research teams have been created at the various institutions — universities and Teagasc food centres — as a result of funding from FIRM, and the capability and critical mass that has been developed, together with the associated knowledge base, represents a major resource for industry.
In addition, the public good food research programmes have been instrumental in the development of a number of food products which contribute to the health and nutritional intake of the consumer.
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