Vol. 467 No. 6
121 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of persons employed in the food and food-related industry; the incentives, if any, available to persons involved in this industry for improvements thereto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/96]
According to provisional figures supplied by the Central Statistics Office, the number of persons employed in the food and drinks industry — excluding the fish sector — at the end of 1995 was 40,800. A full range of support measures covering capital investment, research and development, marketing and promotion, and human resources is provided in the National Development Strategy for the industry, which I launched in February 1995. The strategy, which covers the period up to the end of 1999, provides for a total investment of £641 million in the industry, of which £283 million, including £205 million in EU aid, will be provided from public funds. The implementation of the strategy is now well under way and progressing satisfactorily.
