Significant and well timed investment in Cork’s dairy industry – Collins

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Áine Collins, has welcomed a significant and well timed investment in the Cork dairy industry, as local farmers prepare for the abolition of milk quotas.

“Cork dairy farmers are set to benefit from a €35 million national investment in the dairy processing industry. The investment was announced this week by Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton. This is about farming and about the creation of employment throughout rural Ireland.

“The €32 million announced comprises a €10 million investment by Teagasc and dairy industry shareholders in the expansion of the Moorepark Technology Ltd (MTL) pilot plant facility in Fermoy, along with a €25 million investment in a new Enterprise Ireland funded Dairy Processing Technology Centre in the University of Limerick.

“Ten major dairy companies are involved and I am pleased to see that Cork based companies Dairygold, Glanbia and Kerry are investing in both of these initiatives.

“North Cork Co-op, along with the Irish Dairy Board are investing in the expansion and modernisation of the MTL pilot plant facility.

“This announcement is really well timed for farmers targeting increased milk yields with the upcoming abolition of quotas in April. It is anticipated that there will be a 50% increase in the Irish milk pool by 2020.  

“The food sector is a key element of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs which has overseen the creation of over 80,000 jobs since its launch three years ago.

“The news of this investment, coming so soon after the recent announcement of a €117 million investment in the expansion of Dairygold’s dairy processing facilities at Mallow and Mitchelstown, shows that this is a time of real opportunity for the dairy sector in Cork.”