Donie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will comment on her initiative to promote local and regional food economies. [6113/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The food industry must be developed at all levels as CAP now focuses on the market. This is the reason I have established a new initiative involving the holding of regional food fora to promote local and regional food economies, complemented by research and other activities.

The first regional food forum was organised by my Department and Bord Bia with the other food development agencies in County Donegal in late 2005 on the theme of market focus for small food enterprises. Speakers shared experiences on regional food development with food enterprises from counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. State agencies and service providers were on hand to assist producers and food enterprises interested in growing their business and food products from the north west were showcased to highlight the importance of food to the region's economy. I also launched the North West Food and Drink Trade Directory, a timely guide and reference source for small food business in the north west.

It is my intention to use this forum model in other areas during 2006 to ensure a continued focus on the potential for local food production. By working closely with farmers, small food producers and local agencies we can successfully promote food enterprise and innovation to develop unique products reflecting the strengths of each region.

To promote local and regional produce more widely Bord Bia will, on 11 May, host an international speciality food forum, in association with Invest Northern Ireland, at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin on regional and local foods — an opportunity for growth. The objective of the event is to support and develop sales of Irish small business and speciality food companies on the core markets of Ireland and the UK. The showcase will host up to 80 Irish speciality and premium food and drink producers on a cross-Border basis, with up to 150 trade buyers attending from Ireland and the UK. This showcase will represent the largest range of speciality Irish food and drink companies under one roof in 2006 and will provide a valuable framework for networking with innovative regional and local companies.

Varied routes to market are central to the development of small food businesses and the record growth of farmers' markets is testament to this. Building on the outstanding success of the Farmleigh Food Market, Bord Bia and the Office of Public Works have drawn up a programme of one-day seasonal food markets on five OPW heritage sites with the objectives of enhancing public awareness of heritage sites and of fostering closer ties with the local farming, business and community interests. The heritage sites selected are: Fota House and Gardens, Cork, on 26 February; the JFK Arboretum, Wexford, in May; Castletown House, Kildare, in July; Newmills, Letterkenny, County Donegal, in September; and Emo Court, County Laois, in December.

During 2006 Bord Bia will undertake research on the opportunities for Irish speciality and local foods in Great Britain, in particular the motives of speciality food consumers, to assist and orient small food companies interested in that market. Bord Bia will also undertake research into the authentic ingredients which form part of Ireland's food tradition and which could raise awareness of local and regional foods and so assist producers with production diversification.

There are good prospects for the artisan and speciality food sector nationally and in the United Kingdom where the market is forecast to reach €7.5 billion over three years. The output of the Irish artisan and speciality food sectors grew 10% in 2005 to reach €475 million. Opportunities exist for the right products making the initiative to promote local and regional food economies.