asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the details of the plan to create 1,000 extra jobs in the beef industry referred to in paragraph 15 of the Programme for National Recovery; if he will give similar details in respect of the proposals to create 1,000 extra jobs in pig processing, and 200 extra jobs in sheep processing; if these job targets imply the preservation of all existing jobs; if he expects the numbers employed in the sectors in question to be greater at the end of the five-year period than they are now; and if so, the extent to the increase.
Written Answers. - Beef Industry Development.
60.
The Government are committed to giving high priority to the development of the food industry where significant job opportunities have been identified. A five year development plan drawn up by the IDA in consultation with my Department has already been published. Major investment programmes for the rationalisation and expansion of the beef and pigmeat sectors have been announced and plans are also being implemented for the production of higher added-value products in the sheepmeat sector. Financial assistance towards these investments is being provided by the IDA and by the EC.
The modernisation and rationalisation of the food industry will inevitably result in the closure of some inefficient plants. While it is not possible to predict the overall effect on the industry of the restructuring programme in terms of net jobs created, the job forecasts envisaged in the Programme for National Recovery are expected to be achieved. The importance of the programme lies not only in the creation of new jobs, but more importantly in the establishment of a highly competitive and technologically sophisticated agri-food industry capable of competing on the world's international food market.