Pictured (L-R): Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland; Jim Bergin, CEO of Glanbia Ingredients Ireland; Phil Hogan TD, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government; Taoiseach Enda Kenny; Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food; Liam Herlihy, Chairman of Glanbia plc; Tom Hayes TD; Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; Senator Pat O’Neill; Hugh Cooney, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland. Photo by Jason Clarke

1600 direct and indirect jobs and 450 construction jobs will be created by Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited (GIIL) in a Government-supported investment which will contribute an estimated €400 million p.a. to the economy, with particular benefit to farm families and rural communities.

Enterprise Ireland will part-fund the development of a world-class dairy facility in Belview, on the Kilkenny/Waterford border. Construction is set to commence on 17 May and the new facility is expected to begin production in Spring 2015.

GIIL will employ 76 staff directly at the plant with 1,600 jobs created indirectly on farms, suppliers and maintenance. Some 450 construction workers will be employed during the build.

GIIL is Ireland’s leading dairy ingredients company – processing 1.6 billion litres of milk or 30% of Ireland’s milk pool into a range of dairy ingredients for export to more than 50 countries.  All produce from the new facility will be destined for export markets.

The scale and scope of Belview is extremely ambitious.  As the dairy industry purchases 90% of its inputs from the domestic economy, there will be a maximum impact on the income of farm families – boosting the rural economy and the local industries that will service on-farm expansion. 

Taoiseach Enda Kenny who attended the announcement said: “It is the largest single dairy investment in the history of the State and will contribute greatly to Ireland's export-led recovery."

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD stated that the announcement by GIIL is a milestone in realising the tremendous potential for dairy expansion which is a cornerstone of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. 

Welcoming the Government’s announcement CEO of GIIL, Jim Bergin added:
"The Belview facility is a significant, strategic development for our business. Most of all it reflects our confidence in, and commitment to our 4,300 milk suppliers. By providing this additional processing capacity we will be facilitating milk suppliers in their ambition to avail of the opportunity presented by quota abolition post 2015".

Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “Today’s announcement will further secure Ireland’s standing as a world-leader in the dairy industry”.

The support of Enterprise Ireland will allow GIIL to target value-added markets; further invest in technology and innovation; build organisational capability, significantly enhance sustainability and accelerate the company’s expansion plans with its 4,300 milk suppliers. GIIL is working in partnership with its suppliers on a range of programmes to prepare for expansion, including index-linked milk pricing, volatility management tools, a sustainability programme and financial training.

http://www.glanbia.com/