Food exports fall puts jobs at risk

FOOD exports fell 5% in the first three months of 2010, putting thousands of jobs at risk, the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) predicts.

The sector fell 12% last year. The IEA believes the Government can help save these food jobs by releasing the €42m in funds agreed last year in the Stabilisation Fund, and the €117m outstanding from the EnterpriseEmployment Scheme.

IEA chief executive, John Whelan, said: “These fund schemes were approved last year to help exporters survive the global downturn and help them to reduce costs and help them gain sales in recession-hit overseas markets. It is beyond belief, with so many indigenous exporters at risk, that just over 50% has been released.