Growing capacity in processing "will be a real incentive" for tillage farmers to look at milling wheat as a "greater value-added opportunity".

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that adding value to tillage crop output will be "crucial to long-term sustainability and competitiveness" of the sector.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Minister Heydon said the programme for government commits to examining facilities for the processing of Irish crops and to exploring opportunities for oilseed and milling wheat processing.

Additionally, a key recommendation in the Food Vision tillage report is to explore opportunities for milling wheat in Ireland.

"While there are opportunities to grow milling wheat in Ireland, there are also recognised agronomic and market challenges," the minister said.

"However, with collaboration from industry and support from the marketplace, domestic production of milling wheat can play a role in providing a new value-added opportunity in the supply chain for Irish tillage farmers."

Mill scheme

The government previously announced a scheme to support the establishment of new flour mills in the country.

Ireland currently has only one industrial scale flour mill, and this initiative aims to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of the bakery value chain.

Enterprise Ireland will oversee and administer the scheme and will engage directly with firms considering new or expanded milling operations of scale.

"A total grant budget of €15 million will be made available, and it is envisaged that up to three projects could be supported," the minister said.

The minister was responding to questions from independent TD Brian Stanley, who said there is "huge financial potential here and gain for producers and jobs and employment".

Deputy Stanley highlighted that around 80% of the flour in Ireland is coming from Britain.

"There are environmental benefits and economic benefits for farmers, jobs and food security," he said.

"Laois is very good wheat-growing territory. I know south Kildare is as well - the wheat plains of Kildare - but Laois has wheat plains as well.

"I strongly ask the minister to consider Laois as a location."

Sugar beet

Deputy Stanley also highlighted the impact of the loss of the sugar beet industry to the area.

Minister Heydon agreed, saying that "we should never have lost the sugar beet industry".

"It was a detrimental blow to those of us in south Kildare, Laois and beyond who made very good money out of the campaign every year in delivering it into Carlow, as they did in Tuam, Thurles and Mallow," he said.

Minister Heydon added that it is "up to individual companies to put themselves forward" for the new mill scheme.