Local Fianna Fail TD, Frank O’Rourke, has welcomed the support by Kildare County Council for Naas and surrounding areas to be designated as a Food Hub.
“As I have mentioned in the Dail on a number of occasions, Naas and the surrounding area is home to many Food related companies, which have strong brands. Examples include, Kerry Food, Dawn Farm Food, Queally Group, Tara Vale Foods, Green Isle, Brady Farm Food located in Timahoe, and Ballymooney Foods located in Clane,” stated Deputy O’Rourke who welcomed the support from Peter Carey, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, who called for Naas to be designated as a Food Hub at the Kildare Chamber meeting.

“Since being elected, I have campaigned for the area of North Kildare to be designated as a Food Hub.  I have seen first hand the investment that these companies have made, and continue to make, in terms of product development, technology, human resources and infrastructure. The agri-food sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry which employs over 175,000 people with a turnover of €11bn last year. We must support this Industry given the challenges presented by Brexit” stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“We have recently seen that further investment is bringing jobs to the area with the announcement that Dawn Farm Foods will create a further 150 jobs at their facility. I have contacted the Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland again and put a further Parliamentary Question down for the Minister for Enterprise Jobs and Innovation, seeking to get Food Hub designation for Naas.”

“Given the challenge presented by BREXIT and the reduction in the value of sterling, we need to support food companies like those based in Naas as they try and retain their markets in the more challenging UK market and develop new markets. The Irish Food product is a quality brand that has potential in many markets outside of the UK. Having Naas designated as a Food Hub will assist in this strategy” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.