Phone: 01 6183057 or 045 880980 | Mobile: 087 288 1000 | Email: aine.brady@oireachtas.ie
Local Fianna Fail T.D. Aine Brady has welcomed the launch of Enterprise
Ireland's strategy for the accelerated growth and international development of
Ireland's prepared consumer foods industry but has called for resources to be
focussed towards Kildare.
The Strategy
was launched by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment,
Mary Coughlan TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan
Smith TD.
"I understand from An Tanaiste
that the Government through Enterprise Ireland expect to provide around €30
million over the next five years to companies in the prepared consumer food
sector through its R&D and Growth Funds."
"This significant funding could be of great assistance in securing jobs
and industry in north Kildare where we already have companies such as Green
Isle, Dawn Farm Food and Tara Vale Foods."
"This new Strategy will help companies like Green Isle, Dawn Farm Food
and Tara Vale to reach their full potential for growth and export by giving
practical support and assisting with funding for R&D, innovation and
productivity improvement."
"North
Kildare, Naas in particular, has real potential to become a ‘home' for the
production of consumer foods and this Strategy will assist in this."
"The consumer food companies we have in north
Kildare have great potential and I am hopeful that they will expand to realise
this and in the process secure jobs and industry for the area and put Naas on
the food map," concluded Deputy Brady.