Vol. 525 No. 3
186 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the grants available from his Department to assist in the setting up of agri-related manufacturing products for supply to the hotel and catering industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25193/00]
The National Development Plan, 2000-06 provides total indicative funding of £282 million for the food industry. The initiatives contained in the plan are market oriented and provide a cohesive and comprehensive response to the needs of the industry. The funding is allocated as follows: £120 million for capital investment; £83 million for research, technology and innovation; £48 million for marketing and promotion; and £31 million to address the human resources needs of the food industry.
Under the arrangements which have been drawn up for the implementation of the foregoing initiatives assistance towards the cost of setting up new or expanding existing agri-food manufacturing businesses, including those manufacturing products for supply to the hotel and catering industry, will be provided by the State industrial development agencies – Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development. Responsibility for the promotion and market development initiative has been assigned to Bord Bia who will implement it through a wide variety of programmes including some which are targeted specifically at companies supplying or wishing to supply the food service sector.
