Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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613. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the forthcoming abolition of quotas, if he will provide details of interactions between his Department, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the relevant State agencies and semi-State companies with a view to encouraging the extension of the natural gas network to those towns in the country which currently do not have a gas connection but have a milk processing facility, and are likely to see increases in processing and as a result an increased energy requirement which could be further secured by connection to the national gas network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49596/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the Food Harvest 2020 strategy sets the ambitious target of increasing milk production by 50% by the end of the decade. This will require significant processing capacity and I am aware that all of the major milk purchasers have drawn up significant investment plans with a view to enhancing their processing capacity for post 2015. I am sure that, in drawing up those plans, they would have examined the best and most cost effective energy supply options available. The plans will also have been discussed with relevant State Agencies such as Enterprise Ireland. My Department does not have any function in extension of the gas network and this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.