Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 319: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the financial supports available within his Department for firms seeking to expand within the dairy ingredients sector. [12457/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A number of supports are available to companies in the dairy ingredients sector. Client companies of Enterprise Ireland are eligible for support under all elements of the Food Competitiveness Fund, which is funded by my Department and which supports business transformation through 'lean' business process initiatives, management development and leadership initiatives. Companies engaged in changing how they operate will expect to benefit from increased productivity and quality as well as reductions in manufacturing costs.

Funding is also available under Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Voucher Scheme. This provides funding worth €5,000 where small companies can obtain an innovative solution to a technical or business challenge from Higher Education Institutes in Ireland or Northern Ireland. For smaller food companies, innovation vouchers have been a significant success leading to a productive working relationship between the commercial and education sectors.

Investment continues under the €100 million Dairy Investment Fund, which has been allocated in full following a competitive selection process awarded and is managed by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of my Department. The primary purpose of this Fund is to increase efficiency by supporting the upgrading of plant and buildings for competitiveness and development of value-added products. Many of the projects grant-aided under the Fund will lead to significant gains for the dairy industry through new product development, greater production efficiencies and increased export capability.