Up to 150 new jobs are to be created in a prepared food manufacturing unit in Longford, the Minister for Agriculture and Food has announced. Lacemonot Ltd will go into production next autumn. The project, Mr Walsh said, was being supported by a group of Irish financial institutions, Enterprise Ireland and a number of private investors, and will cost around £10 million (€12.7 million).

Mr Anthony Proudfoot, managing director of the company, acknowledged the assistance of Longford County Council and Enterprise Ireland, which he said, had provided an employment grant package and taken a 5 per cent equity stake.