Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2019
198. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the €34,685,000 capital allocation in policy and strategy within his Department for 2019 by specific project; the projects that will be commenced and completed in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6035/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main components of the €34,685,000 capital allocations for the Policy and Strategy (DAFM Programme C) for 2019 are shown in the following table.
|
Description |
Allocation 2019 € |
|
Horse &Greyhound Fund - Horse Racing Ireland-Capital |
11,100,000 |
|
Food Sector Brexit Capital |
8,630,000 |
|
National Food Innovation Hub Teagasc |
6,000,000 |
|
Prepared Consumer Food Centre – Teagasc |
5,000,000 |
|
Teagasc Capital Grant |
3,150,000 |
|
Restoration of Johnstown Castle |
520,000 |
|
Information Management Technology (Admin Budget) |
241,000 |
|
H&G Fund Bord na gCon-Capital |
44,000 |
The 2019 allocation for the Policy and Strategy includes the Brexit capital supports for the food sector, which were announced in Budget 2019. The grant schemes for food companies and artisan food producers are demand-led schemes, so the numbers of projects or their completion dates of are not yet known.
Innovation and product development is crucial to enhancing the resilience of the sector and to support this I have provided funding for the construction of the National Food Innovation Hub at Teagasc, Moorepark and the further enhancement of the Prepared Consumer Food Centre at Teagasc, Ashtown a project which commenced in 2018. I have also provided for the maintenance of Teagasc’s facilities and laboratories and the completion of the Johnstown Castle Restoration project. I have also provided for Horse Racing Ireland support for development projects at race courses, via the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund.
The Administrative budget capital allocation for Programme C in 2019 provides for ensuring that my Department continues to maintain a robust and responsive IT infrastructure to support of the delivery of Policy and Strategy activities and to assist my department in maintaining its certified ISO 27001 Information Security Standard.
