Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
634 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if An Teagasc's small and medium-enterprise food technology support programme campaign is completed; if not, when this will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20093/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for Teagasc a non commercial semi state body operating under the aegis of my Department. Under the Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, research and advisory services to the agri-food sector. It is a matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities.
Teagasc launched a new ‘Food Technology Support Programme' for small and medium sized food companies in 2009. This is being implemented in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and consists of a team of technologists providing a package of services to food SMEs, including R&D, market research, product development, technical training, consultancy and seminars. It offers access to food processing pilot plant facilities and expertise for product development purposes at Teagasc Centres in Ashtown, Dublin and Moorepark, Co. Cork. The Programme acts as a conduit for the transfer and conversion of knowledge into business benefits. The aim is to support innovation and competitiveness in SMEs through knowledge and technology transfer in order to support growth, exports and employment in the sector. I understand that Teagasc intend to deliver this Programme on an ongoing basis.
More recently I launched a new initiative called ‘Food Works' which features a new comprehensive training and development programme aimed at nurturing new food high potential start-ups. This collaborative programme brings together the capabilities of Teagasc, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland in driving the growth of new entrepreneurial food companies by combining their expertise in food research and development, consumer needs and market demands, and business development.
