Teagasc Launches Campaign to Regenerate Cooley Peninsula
Issued 6thApril 2001
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Dermot Ahern, today launched a major Teagasc campaign aimed at regenerating farming in the Cooley Peninsula in Louth.
The campaign involves intensive advisory and support services to each of the 200 families affected by the cull of 48,000 sheep and 800 cattle.
Announcing details, Oliver Dillon, Chief Agricultural Officer with Teagasc in Louth, said the priority is to help the families come to terms with the trauma, protect their livelihoods over the coming months and then embark on a phased farm and household income regeneration programme over the coming years.
"During the past week, Teagasc and Department of Agriculture experts have met with the families to listen to their concerns and assist them in starting the recovery process. The next phase is to commit the full array of scientific, management and socio-economic services of Teagasc to the people of Cooley," he said.
Four specialist advisers in Louth are being assigned to the project and these will be supported by national Teagasc expertise. Because of the unique circumstances, Mr Dillon stated that the normal Teagasc advisory charges are being waived.
"The immediate focus will be on protecting incomes over the coming months. In this regard, farmers must ensure that de-stocking compensation is put aside for restocking and must not be treated as disposable income."
"We will be helping with farm and household budgeting, identification of alternative income sources and managing land to best effect during the period when farms are de-stocked", he added.
"An urgent component of income protection involves the submission by all 200 farmers of an Area Aid application by the closing date of April 27th. This is critical in ensuring payment of vital EU livestock premia and headage payments in 2001", he stressed.
The Teagasc campaign will involve expert help to families in exploring every opportunity both inside and outside the farm in order to secure their long-term viability. Advice on the best re-stocking strategies will be an integral part of the service.
"We will be encouraging farmers to take a fresh look at their farming system. For some, scaling down of the sheep enterprise may be an option. For others, availing of the early retirement scheme from farming may be a serious consideration. Also, the option of more long-term off-farm employment may be the right route for some families to take. Other possibilities are re-training or the establishment of a supplementary farm enterprise, such as rural tourism".
"In the final analysis, the decision will be taken by the families themselves but they can be assured of every assistance from Teagasc in objectively assessing all options," said Oliver Dillon.
While Teagasc will play the lead role, Oliver Dillon stressed that there will be full co-operation and co-ordination with all key agencies, including, in particular, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Other important agencies include the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, FAS, Dundalk Institute of Technology, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Enterprise Ireland and the local authority. Teagasc will also be working closely with community groups and rural organisations in Cooley.
Referring to the continuing total restriction on movement in the rest of Louth, he acknowledged that acute feed, financial and labour problems now exist on many farms. He said expert help is also available from Teagasc to help farmers cope with these difficulties.
