John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to retain the milk processing plant in Kilmeaden, County Waterford as a milk processing centre for farmers in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27749/05]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department has been in discussion with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the closing of the milk processing plant at Kilmeaden, County Waterford; the outcome of those discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27752/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she will take to retain a company (details supplied) in County Waterford; the discussions she has had with the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27930/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she will take to ensure that dairy farmers in County Waterford do not have to fund the cost of transporting milk out of the county for processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27931/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 331, 333 and 334 together.

In September, Glanbia plc announced the closure of its Kilmeaden cheese factory, with the loss of four full-time and 41 seasonal jobs. Cheese production will now be consolidated into Glanbia's Ballyragget plant and in line with an agreement between Glanbia and Dairygold, some milk will also be sent to Dairygold's Mitchelstown site for contract manufacturing. Glanbia will continue to collect milk as normal from its Waterford milk suppliers with no additional cost or inconvenience.

Closure of the seasonally operated Kilmeaden factory was a commercial decision taken by the company itself and was due primarily to increasing costs and the need for greater capacity utilisation within Glanbia's cheddar cheese manufacturing process. Glanbia is retaining the Kilmeaden site and is actively considering alternative options best suited for the production of small volume, niche dairy or other products.

I have been assured that the combined efforts of the various agencies engaged in overseeing and co-ordinating the industrial needs of the Waterford area will deliver future employment opportunities in the Waterford region.