Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 September 2025
45. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which the Government is supporting food producers and agricultural businesses in County Meath to expand into export markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50680/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is actively supporting food and drink manufacturers in County Meath to expand into export markets through a combination of funding, innovation support, infrastructure development, and ecosystem collaboration.
My Department, through our agency Enterprise Ireland (EI), provides tailored supports for food and beverage companies, including export development funding, market research and access programmes, innovation and R&D grants, and digital transformation and sustainability supports. In 2024, EI paid over €5.8 million to client companies in county Meath, including clients in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. These financial supports are designed to help companies scale, innovate, and compete globally.
The importance of R&D and innovation cannot be underestimated in such a globally competitive sector and, although a world leader in food and beverage production, Ireland must continue to lead from the front. In 2024, Enterprise Ireland-supported food and drink companies invested €166 million in R&D, with over 100 companies investing more than €100,000 each. This investment helps:
• Develop new products for international markets
• Improve production efficiency
• Adopt technologies like AI, biotechnology, and smart manufacturing
EI supported Food and Beverage manufacturers in County Meath continue to access these supports to assist them on their journeys.
The Boyne Valley Food Hub, located in Navan, is a key regional initiative. Developed at the Meath Enterprise Centre, it supports scalable, sustainable, and profitable food businesses. The hub offers access to shared facilities, mentoring, and export readiness programmes and targets companies in the Mid-East and North-East regions, including Meath. Investments in entrepreneurial infrastructure ensure that Meath, and Ireland more broadly, can foster a new pipeline of internationally competitive food companies for the future.
To enable successful outcomes, Enterprise Ireland works closely with Bord Bia (market development), Teagasc (agri-food research), the Food Technology Gateways (innovation support), and the Third-level institutions (skills and R&D partnerships). This ecosystem helps Meath-based companies build global competitiveness and access international networks.
