Coffey welcomes focus in dairy sector as part of €12.5bn Rural Development Programme

Fine Gael Waterford TD, Paudie Coffey, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the focus on the dairy sector as set out in the Government’s plans to invest €12.5 billion in the agri-food industry between now and 2020. Deputy Coffey added that a resurgence in the dairy sector, thanks to the abolition of milk quotas next year, will be particularly positive for Waterford with the development of the new Glanbia facility at Belview Port.

“The new Rural Development Programme sets out a €12.5 billion strategy for growing Ireland’s agri-food sector up to 2020. I was particularly pleased to see a focus on the dairy sector included in the strategy, as Ireland must do all it can to capitalise on the abolition of milk quotas from next year.

“The on-going development of the dairy sector can deliver specific dividends for Waterford, with the development of the new Glanbia facility at Belview Port. This new facility will significantly increase milk production when milk quotas are abolished at the start of 2015. This investment will lead to spin off jobs in the services industry and transport sector and will act as a real driver of the rural economy over the coming period.

“Getting the best possible result for the abolition of quotas will of course require investment, and for this reason the Government is introducing a number of measures aimed at bolstering the dairy sector. This will include support for capital investment in dairy equipment and targeted support for young farmers setting up for the first time. A targeted advisory service on animal health and welfare will be introduced and support will be provided to partly offset the start-up costs of approved collaborative farming arrangements.

“Agriculture production is one of the main drivers of our domestic economic recovery, as can be seen from the recent Bord Bia export figures and the growth projections for the sector in the coming years. This Government has focussed on supporting the agri-food sector and I am confident that the measures contained in the Rural Development Programme will help to grow the sector in the medium to long term.”

ENDS