A food producing plant in Laois is to benefit from €4.3 million in government funding.
It was announced this afternoon that Dawn Meats, which operates plants in Rathdowney and Charleville in Cor, is to receive €4,366,495 to provide for capital enhancements to both facilities.
This is one of 22 projects awarded funding under the Capital Investment Scheme for the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products.
This €70m investment nationally is part of the €100m Scheme first announced late last year.
This funding is to enable the sector to develop and diversify, following Britain’s exit from the European Union and will help farmers and those working in food production to attract new markets and customers, making their business more resilient and sustainable into the long-term.
Laois TD Sean Fleming said: “I am pleased to see the Government investment and support for this sector which is a key industry in Rural Ireland.
“The beef sector is particularly important in County Laois and a large number of farming families depend on this industry as their main source of income.
“This Laois meat factory is very accessible to all farmers in the region and this investment in Rathdowney will benefit many people in Laois and surrounding areas.”
Deputy Charlie Flanagan said: “The agriculture sector is the lifeblood of many communities across the constituency.
“Nationally, we produce enough food to feed nine times our population and the sector employs almost 165,000 people across the country.
“We need to ensure the viability of these jobs long-term, and this investment of €70 million will go directly to food producers to help them develop and diversify.
“This investment is about gaining access to new markets in Asia and North America in particular, with a specific focus on moving up the value chain by increasing sales of higher value-add products.”
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