(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement indicating the progress which has been made in the development of the food industry on the lines outlined in paragraph 2.53 of the publication Building on Reality, 1985-87.

The Ministers of State Group on the Food Industry examined the proposal contained in paragraph 2.53 of the national plan, Building on Reality 1985-87, and recommended that, instead of proceeding with the appointment of the proposed consultant, the work of the group should be terminated and responsibility for the food industry should be vested in one Minister of State. That recommendation was implemented recently.

I will be exploring, with the various interests in the food industry, ways and means of encouraging the industry to expand and diversify into value-added consumer type products which, of course, is the strategy outlined for the food industry in the national plan. As the Deputy is aware, there is already a range of facilities and incentives available from the various State agencies, such as IDA, CBF, AFT, CTT etc., to help the food industry to move in this direction. One of my main tasks will be to examine whether further action is required to enable the food industry to achieve the objectives set down for it in the national plan.

(Limerick West): Has this consultant been appointed? If so, will the Minister inform the House who he is, when he was appointed, if he has submitted reports and if they will be published? How often has this ministerial group met?

The question of the consultant was threshed out at length by the group of Ministers of State with the various people from the Departments and it was decided that such a person would not solve the problems of the industry. What we have decided and have done — and we have clearance from the Minister for Industry and Commerce on this — is to establish a permanent committee comprising representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Fisheries and Forestry and Tourism together with representatives from CTT, IDA, CBF, AFT, IIRS, SFADCo and Bord Bainne to explore ways and means of encouraging the food industry to expand and diversify into value-added products. One of the first steps of the committee will be to examine the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in the various reports on the food industry which are likely to lead to expansion and diversification. The National Development Corporation are expected to have a major role in the food industry.

(Limerick West): I have one final question. Could the Minister give an indication of the number of food technologists employed by the Industrial Development Authority?

Give the number only.

I do not have that information.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister let me have it?

There is a section of the IDA devoted to the food industry ——

(Limerick West): Can the Minister let me have the number later?

Yes.