Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the financial supports available within his Department for firms seeking to expand within the dairy ingredients sector. [12458/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Enterprise Ireland works with companies, which fall into three main categories: · Manufacturing and internationally traded services; companies employing ten or more people (and with a focus on exporting); · Innovation led start-ups with the potential to grow on international markets (and entrepreneurs with the ability to initiate projects that can compete in international markets) and · Irish food companies employing ten or more (with a focus on exporting), both those home-grown in Ireland, and those that are overseas owned or controlled (FDI).

Companies in these three main categories, including in the dairy ingredients sector, are eligible to apply for all of Enterprise Ireland's services and supports, within the frameworks of legislative and State Aid regulations (for example, conditions relating to the size of a company). Enterprise Ireland provides direct support to Companies to increase their capability to export, including in-company R&D, Innovation, Start-up Funding, Market Development, Competitiveness, and Management Development. The agency also provides supports to companies, institutions and researchers in the areas of Research Collaboration and Commercialisation – aimed at delivering maximum economic return for the State's expenditure on Science Technology and Innovation.

In addition, client companies of Enterprise Ireland in the dairy ingredient sector are eligible for support under all elements of the Food Competitiveness Fund, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

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 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 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.