Written answers

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Industry Development

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department expect to be able to capitalise on the expansion of the agri-food sector with a view to maximising opportunities for economic recovery having particular regard to the success to date in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020, our comprehensive plan for the development of the sector, are achievable and can be met. This planned expansion of the sector will contribute to Ireland's economic recovery. The main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of

- Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%

- Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% and

- Value added production by 40 %

- In addition, a 50% increase in milk production and 78% increase in the volume of aquaculture production is envisaged.

Progress on these targets and the 215 recommendations in the Food Harvest 2020 report are monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis by the Food Harvest High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) . The HLIC, which I chair, consists of the senior officials of all state agencies involved in the agriculture, food and fisheries sector. Its third report, “Milestones for Success 2013”, published earlier this month, provides a detailed account of considerable progress achieved to date on all the recommendations in FH2020 (link following).

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