Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proportion of the budget for food industry competitiveness, marketing and innovation that has been spent in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40574/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Food Sector Competitiveness Fund, approved by Government in 2009, included lean manufacturing, R&D and marketing initiatives. The budget provided for 2010 is €9.5 million comprising €7 million for lean manufacturing and R&D initiatives managed by Enterprise Ireland and €2.5 million for marketing initiatives by An Bord Bia. By the end of 2010, nearly €3 million will have been spent on lean manufacturing including leadership training including €593,864 in expenditure to date. Further projects underway together with applications in hand will mature for payment in 2011. This includes much of the €450,000 in €5,000 innovation vouchers recently awarded to food companies. With regard to the €2.5million for marketing, Bord Bia has allocated this to initiatives underway.