asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the criteria used by the Industrial Development Authority in grant-aiding the dairy processing sector; and whether these criteria coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund in grant-aiding that sector.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Processing Sector Grants.
23.
Limerick East): The Industrial Development Authority apply the following general criteria in assessing the type of company, in the agricultural processing sector, that will qualify for support:
—companies capable of, and with a commitment to, new product and market development;
—companies of sufficient size and with sufficient resources to operate effectively on export markets; and
—companies which have performed well in the past.
In addition, the authority, when assessing applications from the dairy processing sector, use the following criteria:
—projects will be encouraged which involve added value to existing products, for example, processed cheese, cheese packaging and cheese analogue, frozen cream, flavoured milks, milk powder canning and coffee whiteners;
—projects will be encouraged for the manufacture of new products for example, baby foods, dietary and health foods, whey protein, demineralised whey, lactose, whey alcohol, frozen desserts and cream;
—no grant assistance will be available for the liquid milk industry;
—no grant assistance will be available for increased capacity for bulk butter, milk powders, casein and butteroil.
Under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund the dairy processing sector, with the exception of investments relating to milk products other than those based on cows' milk, has been ineligible for grant assistance since 1 January 1984. IDA criteria, in grant-aiding the dairy processing sector, do not coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. The criteria applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund are set out in Official Journals of the European Communities Nos. (i) C152 of 10 June 1983 pages 2 to 6, (ii) C56 of 29 February 1984 page 4 and (iii) C78 of 26 March 1985 page 7.
24.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the criteria used by the Industrial Development Authority in grant-aiding the beef slaughtering and processing sector; and whether these criteria coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund in grant-aiding that sector.
Limerick East): The Industrial Development Authority apply the following criteria in assessing the type of company, in the agricultural processing sector, that will qualify for support:
—companies capable of, and with a commitment to, new product and market development;
—companies of sufficient size and with sufficient resources to operate effectively on export markets; and
—companies which have performed well in the past.
In addition, the authority, when assessing applications from the beef slaughtering and processing sector, use the following criteria:
—projects involving desirable modernisation and efficiency improvements to existing facilities will be considered for grant assistance at the level necessary for the project to qualify for grants under the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund;
—projects will be encouraged which involve the processing of beef into higher added value products, such as portion controlled meats, beefburgers, salami, formed and reconstituted steaks, canned and paste meats, intended mainly for export markets;
—grant support will be provided for a limited number of independent boning operations where export market outlets have been developed and continuity of supply assured;
—no grant aid will be available for additional slaughtering capacity.
IDA criteria, in grant-aiding the beef slaughtering and processing sector, do not coincide in every way with those applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. The criteria applied by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund are set out in the Official Journals of the European Communities Nos. (i) C152 of 10 June 1983 pages 2 to 6, (ii) C56 of 29 February 1984 page 4 and (iii) C78 of 26 March 1985 page 7.