Glanbia facility opening gets the South East Ready for lifting of Milk Quotas – Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey TD has said that the opening of the new Glanbia Facility in Belview Port is the final building block in getting the South East Region ready for the lifting of Milk Quotas in a few weeks time. Minister Coffey said the Dairy sector was vital to Ireland’s rural economy and this move will support and create jobs in the agriculture sector across Waterford and the South East.

“This facility represents an investment of €157 million and will deliver almost 80 jobs directly at the plant and support an estimated 1,600 jobs indirectly in Rural Ireland. During the construction phase of the project there were 450 construction jobs delivered and with the improving conditions in this sector I am confident that these workers will find alternative employment in the coming period.

“This facility is a major vote of confidence in our Agri-food sector and will secure Ireland’s standing as a World leader in the dairy industry. Glanbia has 4,300 milk suppliers, the vast majority based in Ireland, and consumes 30 per cent of all Irish milk for export to over 50 countries.

“The South East of Ireland is experiencing the economic recovery; with 1 in 4 jobs created in the State in the last four years coming in the South East Region. We now have over 200,000 back in full-time employment in the Region for the first time in over 6 years.

“The Belview Port area is a strategic zone for the entire South East Region and this facility follows on from works that have just started as a result of a €60 million investment in the Smartply facility that has secured the future of that plant in the area.

“The Glanbia plant is a result of a strategic investment that is deliberately targeting the lifting of the Milk Quotas so that they are ready for the increased volume of milk production that will follow in the coming period. Ireland has the potential to become a food basket for the World and our high quality agri-food sector is in a prime position to increase the level of food exports this year; even after last year which was a record breaking year for the sector in terms of exports.

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