Vol. 498 No. 5
105 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on whether it would be more appropriate to direct departmental policy in relation to food related issues through a free-standing operational programme for food rather than through a sub-programme of the operational programme for industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27347/98]
The current development policy for the food industry covers the period 1994 to 1999 and is contained in the food sub-programme of the operational programme for industrial development. This arrangement constitutes the mechanism whereby EU and national funds are made available to the food industry and I am satisfied that it has not detracted from the implementation of food policy. Under the monitoring provisions for the operational programme for industrial development, there is a special subcommittee which reviews progress under the food sub-programme. These provisions have worked very satisfactorily and have facilitated amendments to the sub-programme as the need has arisen.
