Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the important role that Naas and County Kildare play in the Irish agri-food sector and the contribution to growth and employment made by companies based there in relation to prepared consumer foods, meat, dairy, bakery and confectionery, as well as the investment by an Irish food multinational in a Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas.

Food Wise 2025 which was launched in July last year sets out a ten year plan for the agri-food sector with a target of food and drink exports of €19 billion by 2025 and of 23,000 new jobs created in the sector. Its Local Roots, Global Reachvision underlines the sector’s unique regional position in the Irish economy, identifies smarter and greener ways to deliver sustainable growth and recommends actions to support economic development. The Mid- East Region Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017 also has a specific focus on the importance of the agri food sector in the region.

State agencies, in particular Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia, have been active in supporting agri-food companies in and close to Naas, and this has contributed to six consecutive years of national growth in Irish food and drink exports to reach €10.8 billion in 2015, that is 52% higher and €3.7 billion more than in 2009.

Enterprise Ireland provides important programmes right through a company’s development at start-up, scaling and growth stages. These include lean competitiveness programmes funded by my Department. In addition, FoodWorks, which was developed by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc provides intensive support for food and drink entrepreneurs.

A range of initiatives and supports including Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes, Origin Green, strong market intelligence and insight support for companies, trade shows especially Marketplace, and support for building brands with impact, are strengthening companies’ own development and growth plans.

Other innovative programmes such as Food Academy have provided an impetus to small companies and entrepreneurs. Food Academy is run by Bord Bia, Supervalu and the Local Enterprise Offices with the specific objective of supporting small food producers at a local level by providing training and support. Participating companies are provided with the necessary business, marketing skills and retailer knowledge to help them gain access to the Food Academy fixture in local Supervalu stores and selected participants may then work on an Advance programme, taking them fromlocal to regional and national supplier status.