Ambition and reality clash

There was an air of unreality about this week’s launch of the ambitious project to put in place Ireland’s largest dairy dedicated powder facility at Belview in south Kilkenny, for Glanbia.

There were euros flying as politicians and captains of industry welcomed the go-ahead for investment of over €150m in a plant which will have capacity to process over 700m litres of milk per year, from the spring of 2015.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said this Government-supported largest single dairy investment in the history of the State will create over 1,600 jobs, and contribute €400m per year to the economy, with particular benefit to farm families and rural communities.