Four sites in running for sugar beet factory

Four potential sites have been identified in Cork for a national sugar beet processing factory.

County manager Martin Riordan has refused to name the sites because of commercial sensitivities but it has been speculated by county councillors that the former Greencore plant in Mallow, and a serviced greenfield site near Carrigtwohill, once earmarked for biotechnology giant Amgen, are in the running.

The council was asked to identify suitable sites by Sugar Beet Ireland, which is hoping to open a plant in 2017. A number of locations for the factory are being examined throughout the country.