(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the plans Shannon Free Airport Development Co. has for the expansion of the food processing industry in Limerick.
Written Answers. - County Limerick Industries.
47.
Limerick East): The White Paper on Industrial Policy published in 1984 assigned to Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited a pilot role in the development of the food processing sector whereby it was to develop and list initiatives and programmes which, if successful, would be applied on a national basis. To carry out this pilot role, which is its main function in the food processing area, the company identified a need to provide specially designed buildings for the development of the food industry. Phase I of this project has now been implemented by Shannon Development at Raheen and it comprises 43,000 sq. ft. which is largely fully occupied. The manufacturing projects in the centre are expected to provide jobs for 140 people at full production. In addition to manufacturing projects, there is in the centre an experimental food kitchen-laboratory where potential project promoters can test the feasibility of preparing new food products. Construction of Phase II of the Raheen food centre buildings which will comprise an additional 20,000 sq. ft. was recently announced.
In addition, with a view to developing the food industry in the context of the role assigned to it in the White Paper on Industrial Policy, the company is engaged in the following activities:
—generally increasing public interest in food processing and encouraging the establishment of new processing firms.
—identification of new products for manufacture. Food idea generation workshops are being held in Limerick city and county, and
—the development of agri-business farm programmes including farm-based food processing projects.