Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to assist in the creation of an efficient dairy processing sector with a view to securing its longer-term competitive advantage with a €100 million investment package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28562/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister launched a capital investment package for the Irish Dairy Processing Sector in September 2006. Following the commercial and technical evaluation of applications a total of 19 capital investment projects were approved and awarded Government grant assistance of €114 million, which will generate an estimated capital spend of €286 million. Four of these projects were completed in early 2008, and the others are proceeding to the implementation phase, which will continue throughout 2008 and later.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to increase research and development funding for projects in the dairy sector to fully exploit its potential for new products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28563/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The public good Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) operated by my Department has been providing research funding on a competitive basis for research projects on milk, cheese, food ingredients and technologies. This support will continue within future budget availability. The broad thematic areas of research in this area will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and with the assistance of the Department's Industry led Research Group currently chaired by Dan Browne.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to enhance the dairy hygiene scheme to include feeding systems and increased thresholds for milking equipment and milk tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28564/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Improvement Scheme (FIS) introduced in 2007 extended grant-aid to feeding systems and increased the specific investment ceilings for milking machines and bulk milk tanks from €16,000 to €40,000 and €25,000 respectively.