The food related elements of the national development plan provide for an indicative public funding allocation of £282 million for the food industry over the period 2000-06. This funding will be used to finance the following four measures: capital investment, £120 million; research and development, £83 million; promotion and market development, £48 million; human resources, £31 million.
These measures, which will be administered, as appropriate, by my Department, An Bord Bia and the industrial development agencies, represent a comprehensive response to the development needs of the industry as identified by the food industry development group and the Agri Food 2010 committee. In particular they are aimed at enhancing the industry's competitiveness and innovative capability while at the same time helping to ensure that development is underpinned by attention to food safety and quality issues.
It is intended that the measures will be formally launched within the next few weeks. Meanwhile a number of them have already been brought into operation and arrangements for the implementation of the remainder are at an advanced stage.