Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of a national food innovation hub as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the €2 million allocation that has been spent; the way in which it has been utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24212/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In line with the strategic recommendation in Food Wise 2025, a National Food Innovation Hub is being constructed at the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Moorepark, Co. Cork. Teagasc is overseeing the project, which will comprise up to 12 custom designed Research & Development units to be rented out to food companies at commercial rates. My Department is providing €8.8m in exchequer funding on a phased basis to end 2019 to fund the development. The allocation for 2018 is €2m. There has been no expenditure to date, as the project is at the planning and design phase. I understand that Teagasc has selected a design team following a public procurement exercise. The “Hub” is currently being designed and following completion of that process, and securing the necessary planning permission, Teagasc plan to appoint a main contractor before the end of 2018.

It’s expected that the bulk of the expenditure will occur in 2019.