Vol. 443 No. 4
147 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in view of the allocation of funding for food research, if he will give a breakdown of the projects involved; the allocation that is made for technological research in the food industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The expert group on the food industry, which was established in response to a recommendation of the Culliton report, undertook a comprehensive review of the Irish food industry. A key recommendation of the expert group's report was the need to support food research and development activities.
The group also recommended the drawing up of a new national programme for the food industry. This programme, which will take the form of a special sub-programme in the next round of the Structural Funds, includes support for research and development, as well as providing assistance for capital investment, marketing and promotion and human resources.
Research and development will be aided in two ways. Funding will be provided for both institutional and in-company research and development. The £7 million funding which was announced recently concerns institutional research and development and represents the allocation for 1994. Pending finalisation of negotiations with the EU Commission it is not possible to confirm in precise terms the total amount of funding which will be available for food research and development activities for the period 1994-1999, but it is expected to be substantial.
Any research institution with a food project can apply for funding. A research committee with a predominant representation from the food industry has recently been appointed to assess these projects. This will ensure that public good research will take due account of market requirements.
