Jim Higgins
Question:163 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason there has been no progress regarding the compensation for scrapie for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [6665/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 11 February last. The forms referred to therein have not yet been finalised.
David Stanton
Question:164 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grant aid, if any, received by a company (details supplied) in setting up its operations in Midleton, County Cork; the grant aid, if any, repayable to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6702/99]
David Stanton
Question:165 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a company (details supplied) in Midleton, County Cork, is scaling down its operations; the role, if any, he has had in helping to avoid the job losses; and the plans, if any, he has to secure the reopening of the plant in the near future. [6703/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
The company was paid grants totalling £111,570 in respect of research and development activities at the Midleton plant. It also assumed liability for research and development grants of £73,539 paid to the previous owners. Based on the proposed timescale announced by the company for the scaling down of its operations at Midleton, no repayment liability will exist in respect of these grants.
The company advances commercial reasons for the scaling down of its activities at Midleton. It has incurred losses for several years and contends that, due to the limited size of Ireland's vegetable market it cannot benefit from the economies of scale enjoyed by its European competitors. My Department is working closely with Enterprise Ireland to secure an alternative enterprise for the Midleton facility.