Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2010
138 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of businesses that have benefited from the Bord Iascaigh Mhara seafood development centre; the level of investment which has been required to facilitate this incubation centre for new businesses; if there is a similar facility available for the broader agrifood industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10963/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Seafood Development Centre (SDC), which delivers on a key recommendation of the Government strategy ‘Steering a New Course' seafood strategy 2007-2013, will support and provide industry with a commercially focused innovation and new product development capability. The SDC is managed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which has advised that 60 seafood companies have used or are using the innovation facility since its launch in October last year.
BIM's integrated business development and innovation programme which includes the SDC can assist industry to achieve a shift to value-added and over a five year period, aims to achieve €100 million in additional value-added seafood sales. BIM see significant potential for value-added produce in terms of seafood health and wellness benefits, consumer friendly packaging and convenient ready meals, organic seafood and optimising by-products from fish processing.
The SDC is a bespoke facility which was provided by the Office of Public Works as an integrated part of the decentralised complex of co-located offices for BIM the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the fisheries divisions of the Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and Food in Clonakilty and the costs are the responsibility of that Office. The SDC is particular to the seafood sector and other developments and facilities are available to the broader agrifood industry.
