The Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Dinny McGinley T.D., has today(Tuesday 21st February 2012) announced that the Government has given approval for grant assistance by Údarás na Gaeltachta to Largo Food Exports Ltd., a company based in Gaoth Dobhair Business Park, Co. Donegal.
The grant assistance of €579,564 will assist the company in updating equipment and in funding a research and development programme for new high-value products to be produced in the Gaeltacht for the Irish and British markets.
Making the announcement, Minister McGinley said: "Thisinvestment is vital in securing the continued presence of Largo Food Exports Ltd. in Gaoth Dobhair. The State's investment in this company shows the Government’s commitment to consolidating employment in areas such as Gaoth Dobhair in order to sustain viable rural communities and, in particular, to support the Irish language as the community language in a strong Gaeltacht heartland."
Minister McGinley added that this announcement endorses the Government's commitment to retaining Údarás na Gaeltachta's enterprise development function and to the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. "The creation of jobs in Gaeltacht areas is central to the aim of the Strategy, which is to ensure that the Irish language is passed from generation to generation as a vibrant family and community language," said the Minister. The Minister commended Largo Foods and its CEO, Raymond Coyle, in particular, for their ongoing commitment to the Gaoth Dobhair operation, which currently supports the equivalent of 125 full-time jobs.
ENDS
Note for editors:
· Largo Food Exports Ltd. is the parent company of Arán Pita Éireann Teo., Bia Ghaoth Dobhair Teo., Largo Intellectual Properties Ltd., and Bia Ghaoth Barra Teo., which are all based in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal.
· These companies supply snack-foods to major retailers nationally and internationally, including Tesco, Safeway, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Butterkist. They also produce snack-foods for their parent company, Largo Food Exports Ltd., under the brand Tayto.
· The Largo Group, which has its headquarters in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, has been providing steady employment in the Donegal Gaeltacht for many years. Currently there are 125 full-time equivalent staff employed by the group in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park.