Figures released by the European Commission this week show that 67 Irish agri-food companies have received almost €18m in grants and subsidies from the Irish State over the last 12 months. This is the first time these figures have become available following new EU rule introduced last year where businesses benefitting from State support must be identified publicly.

According to the Commission, the purpose of these new rules is to increase transparency of state support for companies and to ensure member states are not offering unfair incentives to businesses.

In the published list, agri-food businesses account for almost a third (32%) of all State grants handed out in the last 12 months. The grants range in size from €3.3m to €60,000 and total €18m, with almost half of this total funding paid out to just four companies.

These four companies are all involved in the rendering business, with grants awarded under the Fallen Animals Collection Scheme introduced in 2001. This scheme subsidises knackeries to collect all dead cattle over 48 months and contributes to the collection and scrapie-testing of fallen sheep.

The largest recipient of payments under the scheme was Waterford Proteins, the rendering plant controlled by Larry Goodman’s ABP, which was recieved €3.3m directly for services provided including rendering, processing and the disposal of fallen animals in compliance with EU Regulations. Waterford Proteins received this money over a three year period.

Dublin Products received €2.2m in payments under the Fallen Animal Scheme. Dublin Products is a subsidiary of Avglade Ltd, a company that also controls Wicklow Meats and Wicklow Proteins and is owned by the Ronan family.

Meath-based College Proteins received €2.1m in payments under the Fallen Animal Scheme. The company is owned by John and Martin Gilroy.

The fourth rendering company to receive State subsidies was Foyle Food Group, which recieved close to €845,000 in the last year. Primarily based in Northern Ireland and the UK, Foyle operates a single plant in Ireland in Co Donegal. The company is owned by the Acheson family.

Other notable recipients of grants include Keelings Fruits, which received €108,166, and Country Crest, which was awarded €73,252. The majority of agri-food companies to receive grants are operating in the horticulture sector. For the full list of companies and amounts awarded see www.farmersjournal.ie