asked the Minister for Agriculture the measures which have been taken to implement the strategy outlined for the food industry in Building on Reality 1985-87 to encourage the sector to seek out and exploit opportunities for the production of consumer-type products; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Measures to Aid the Food Industry.
33.
In order to encourage the food industry to seek out and exploit opportunities for the production of consumer-type products, the grant-aiding agencies such as the IDA have been asked to give priority to projects related to such products. There is a strong link between investment in product development and increasing the added-value of agricultural produce. Various agencies such as An Foras Talúntais, UCC, IIRS and the IDA provide a range of facilites and incentives for product development and improving the value-added of agricultural output. It is the policy of my Department to encourage the industry to avail of these facilities and incentives in order to enable diversification away from commodity type products such as carcase beef, butter and skim milk powder into consumer type products which are less vulnerable to changes in EC policy and have a much greater value added and employment content.