Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Food Industry.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

33 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the structure, aims and objectives of the Food Institutional Research Measure which he announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4971/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The National Development Plan 2000-2006 contains indicative public funding of €358 million for a full range of support measures for the food industry. These measures cover capital investment, research and development, marketing and promotion and human resource development.

A total of €106 million is provided to cover research, technology and innovation for the food industry. Of this amount, €36 million has been allocated for the purpose of in-company research and technology transfer and this is being administered by the development agencies. Some €70 million has been allocated towards the food institutional, or public good, research measure, administered by my Department.

The objectives of the food institutional research measure are to complement the support being provided for in-company research, to provide a base of expertise and information to support product development in the industry and to assist in assuring consumer protection by ensuring that development is underpinned by attention to food safety and quality.

Aid under the measure is provided in respect of research that is neither commissioned nor carried out in-house by individual firms. Funding is allocated on the basis of open competition organised through public calls for proposals which are announced in the national press. Projects are accepted from institutions, including the universities and Teagasc, that can demonstrate the capa bilities to engage in this type of research. Up to 100% funding for eligible costs may be provided.

The food institutional research committee comprising representatives of the public and private sectors determine the projects to be funded. In assessing projects, the committee may avail of the services of external experts to carry out independent evaluations. Priority is being afforded to the themes of food safety, new innovative food products and the enhancement of the institutions' ability to support development in the consumer foods area. A dissemination project, for the purpose of distributing the research results from the institutions participating in the measure to Irish food companies, is also being funded.

Arising from a general call for projects in 2000 and a targeted call in 2001, over half of the funding available for the measure has been committed. Some 76 research projects, across a number of key areas, from the universities, Teagasc and some other institutions involving funding of €36 million have been selected for aid.