Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1214: 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. [47677/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provided funding of €114 million towards investment in dairy processing and a total of 19 capital investment projects were approved and awarded Government grant assistance under the Fund, which will generate an estimated capital spend of €286 million at full production. The purpose of the Fund is to increase the efficiency of the main dairy outputs by supporting the upgrading of plant and buildings. This will assist operators in capturing new business in global markets and in developing new valued added products. Three of those projects have already been completed and others are progressing to the implementation phase, which will continue during 2009.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1215: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on 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. [47678/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provides funding for pre-commercial research in the food sector through the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM). Within the dairy sector, FIRM funded research is ongoing on milk, cheese, new food ingredients, manufacturing and processing which will support the development of the sector including new products. Support for research projects will continue within future budget availability.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1216: 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. [47679/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. Overall expenditure under the Farm Improvement Scheme in 2007 and 2008 was in excess of €12.9million.