Farming « Thurles Information

Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD Commends Recipients of Meat Hygiene Certificates

teagasc-awards Certificates in Meat Hygiene were presented to food technical staff of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at a ceremony attended by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD on Saturday, 25 April last.

The graduates completed nine modular courses at certificate level at Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre over the last number of years and were awarded FETAC certificates in Meat Hygiene.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle stated:

“The safety of Ireland’s food supply is paramount, not only for the consumer and to protect public health, but also for the sustainability of the food industry. The 250 officers who receive their Certificates in Meat Hygiene today play an important role in ensuring the safety of our food chain.

Martin Long, Thurles, County Tipperary received a special ‘Theoretical Examination’ award

The course at Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre provided over 600 hours of training to technical staff of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the standards of the EU Directive 91/497/EEC. It covered both the theoretical and practical aspects of meat hygiene. Course modules covered included: animal welfare, anatomy and physiology, basic pathology and disease, and food borne illnesses.

Tipperary Company To Export Bovine Semen To China

South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society Limited, Thurles, Co.Tipperary are one of two Irish companies who have now been approved for to export bovine semen into China.

In order to allow the export of bovine semen from Ireland to China, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had to satisfy the requirements of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ).

Junior Agriculture Minister, Tony Killeen T.D. described the news as a hugely significant development for the sector. Minister Killeen stated:-

‘For the first time, the large and potentially lucrative Chinese market has been made available to Irish companies who can offer quality genetics in Irish bovine semen to Chinese customers. This development proves that Ireland is now globally recognised for having an advanced animal breeding structure and I am confident that more Irish companies will be approved in the future by the Chinese authorities. I also wish to pay tribute to the work of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) in ensuring that livestock breeding in Ireland has benefited from the application of the latest technologies to the livestock breeding sector’.

This market was secured following two visits to Ireland by Chinese officials who carried out rigorous and detailed inspections of the South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society Limited.

Investment – Funding for Agriculture and Tipperary Cattle Marts

Significant funding has been announced to-day for the three cattle marts in North Tipperary.

Cattle Marts in Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea will receive almost half a million euro to carry out works to make their facilities even more environmentally compliant. The three marts named, together with funding announced, are as follows:-

Mid Tipperary Co-Op Mart , Thurles – €231, 222 .00.
Central Auction services Co-Op, Roscrea – €147,674.00.
Central Auction services Co-Op, Nenagh – €115,791.00.

This funding comes as part of the Department of Agriculture’s ‘Marketing and Processing Scheme’.

Other Tipperary enterprises to benefit from the scheme are:-

Darcy Meats in Nenagh.
Con Traas Organic Fruits in Cahir.

Both businesses gain grants of €219,806 and €109,495 respectively for capital improvements.

Welcoming these funding allocations, Independent North Tipperary Deputy Michael Lowry speaking to Thurles.Info stated:

“Investment in the Tipperary agri-food sector is vital for the development of our local economy. Tipperary is rightly proud of its reputation as a top quality food producer for both the Irish and export markets. This funding will go towards the further enhancement of Tipperary’s superior food producing reputation and ensure that local enterprises in this sector continue to flourish. The investment in the three Tipperary Marts is particularly pleasing as the Mart still remains at the core of agricultural life in the county.”

National Development Plan – Report on Economic and Social Progress in Co. Tipp 2008

tipp The figures given in the report released today under the National Development Plan 2007 -2013, while provisional, give us some indication of how Tipperary fared in the national share out. Actual expenditure and grant aid approved will be available early in 2009 from each of the relevant Government Departments.

FÁS – Skills & Training: In 2008, 340 Tipperary people participated in a wide range of FÁS training courses and a variety of other programmes, including apprenticeships, vocational training and in-company training. This compares with Kildare 800 persons, Donegal 1000 persons, Kilkenny and Laois – no known figures, Louth 2000 persons, Waterford 3000 persons, Cork 3,300 persons and Wicklow 122 persons.

Road networks: In Tipperary, over €70 million was allocated for national road improvements and maintenance in the county. National roads that received funding include the N7 Limerick to Nenagh, N7 Castletown to Nenagh and N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown, which opened in July. The M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel, which was opened this month at a cost of €434 million and which bypasses the towns of Littleton and Horse and Jockey. This compares with Westmeath €96.7 million, Cavan €13.24 million, Clare €6.24 million, Galway €134 million, Kilkenny €240 million and Offaly €32.7 million. The improvement of non national roads in Co.Tipperary benefited by a further €27.8 million for local projects including the Ballysloe to Clonmicklin, Templemore to Templetuohy, New Inn to Whitelands, Gormanstown to Castlegrace and Rearcross to Newport roads.

Tourism and Hospitality Sector: This sector supports 250,000 jobs throughout all Ireland. In 2008, €19 million was allocated nationally for this programme. Under the Tourism Capital Investment Programme, County Tipperary received an allocation of €1.9 million for tourism projects in 2008. Funds were approved for the Beara Breifne Walk, Terryglass Amenity Area, Cahir Brown Trout Angling Centre of Excellence and a heritage driving route in the Comeragh Mountains. Funding were also approved for Historic Trails in Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel and Tipperary Town and the Tipperary Heritage Trail. Over €1.6 million in funding was allocated in County Tipperary under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme for replacement of the swimming pools in Thurles and Roscrea.

Sports: Under the NDP funded Sports Capital Programme, €4.93 million in grants was allocated to sporting clubs and facilities in Co. Tipperary. Beneficiares were Roscrea Leisure Centre, Thurles Gaelic Sports field Society Ltd. and Holycross Ballycahill GAA Club.

Rural Economy Development: Under the Commercial Horticulture Sector scheme over €437,000 was allocated to 12 schemes in Co. Tipperary in 2008 to assist growers to produce high quality products.

Education: In County Tipperary Primary and Post-Primary schools received capital funding of over €24.3 million; schools that benefited include Silvermines National School, Kilruane National School, St. Joseph’s CBS in Nenagh and Borrisokane Community College. The Tipperary Institute received over €157,000 for minor capital works.

Childcare services: Co. Tipperary were allocated funding of over €3.5 million in 2008. Services that benefited include Holycross Community Childcare and Whizz Kids Montessori in Thurles, Ballingarry Community Council and Learning Through Fun, Nenagh.

Housing Funding: Over €2 million was allocated for voluntary housing provisions during the year, and projects funded include homes at Roscrea, Thurles, Cashel and Clonmel.

Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009: Funding to upgrade and expand water treatment capacity, improve drinking water quality and supply and improve and expand waste water treatment in County Tipperary was over €213 million. Schemes funded in 2008 which were completed include Thurles Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Enterprise Boards: During 2008, the Tipperary County Enterprise Board was allocated €1.6 million. Among the companies supported were Feileacan Accessories in Clonmel, The Apple Farm in Cahir and Digino Ltd. in Ballina.

Littleton and Horse & Jockey Bypassed and The Farm Installation Scheme

The Tipperary villages of Littleton and Horse & Jockey are today enjoying a new lease of life with the removal of 16,000 vehicles per day from them.

Independent Deputy Michael Lowry (Pictured here turning on the Thurles Christmas Lights) has welcomed the official opening of the Cullahill to Cashel road project by the Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D. over 7 months ahead of schedule.

The new road involves 10.5 kms of motorway between Cullahill in Co. Laois and Urlingford in Co. Kilkenny and 29 kms of dual carriageway between Urlingford and Cashel in Tipperary.

Michael Lowry expressed his happiness at the early delivery of the project that will cut journey times, improve safely standards and reduce congestion.

Speaking to Thurles.Info Michael Lowry stated:

“I am delighted that such an important piece of our national infrastructure has been delivered in such a timely and effective manner. The credit for this has to go to all parties involved including the councils, the land owners and the contractors. From a Tipperary point of view, I feel the real winners today are the villages of Littleton and Horse & Jockey who are now in a position to plan for an exciting new future without the massive throughput of traffic and congestion that they have endured for years.”

Young Farmer Installation Scheme

On a totally different issue, Michael Lowry today spoke to Thurles.Info regarding his recent meetings with the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith on the issue of Installation Aid for Young Farmers.

Deputy Lowry had been making strong and robust arguments to the Minister over the past week regarding the importance of this scheme for young farmers, attempting to set up their holdings.

Following these discussions the Minister confirmed the following to Thurles.Info today:

That applications that were in the pipeline but not completed by the 15th of October will now be addressed.

That eligible young farmers who are currently under the age of 35 and who continue their training will not be excluded from the scheme when it reopens.

Speaking to Thurles.Info Deputy Lowry stated:

“I am delighted to get these important commitments from the Minister. Over the course of its existence the Installation Aid scheme had been vital for farm restructuring, the establishment of young farmers and the encouragement of the transfer of land to young farmers.The scheme is one of few ways in which the Government can encourage new blood and assist farmers. We all recognise that cuts in government expenditure are required in the current economic climate, but the cut to installation aid as announced in the budget adversely affected young farmers who where attempting to establish themselves on the land. I am pleased that the Minister has recognised these concerns and has issued commitments to me in respect of the arguments that I have put forward to him”

This statement has been approved by the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith in advance of publication.

Info: The objective of Young Farmers Installation Aid Scheme is to encourage young people to establish themselves in farming. The value of the scheme is a once off €15,000 payment. This scheme was agreed under Social Partnership for 2007-2013 and is co-funded by the EU. The Scheme is 42% co-funded by the EU and is vital to facilitate the smooth and early transfer of farms.