Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the incentives which are available, the incentives she is empowered to make available and the incentives she is prepared to make available to ensure that the site of the Mallow sugar plant is used for the production of an agricultural commodity that can at least fill some of the gap left by the closure of the factory on that site by Greencore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18863/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The question of full dismantling or partial dismantling and the continued use of the Mallow plant for production of another agricultural commodity is a matter for commercial decision by Greencore itself and the initiative on this rests with the Company. If Greencore were to submit an application for the maximum amount of restructuring aid under the terms of the reform agreement that would require full dismantling of the plant. There is also the option of partial dismantling of a factory and its use for non-sugar production while still attracting 75% of the aid available.

I raised the possibility of using Mallow for ethanol production with Greencore having regard to the incentive under the restructuring scheme, the inclusion of sugar beet in the energy crops scheme and the extension in the last budget of excise relief of €205m which, when fully operational will support the use and production of 163 million litres of biofuels annually. The company has informed me that it does not intend to produce bioethanol in Mallow but the incentives remain in place which allow other potential developers to consider the option.