A local County Councillor has called on Laois County Council to engage with Mountrath Co-Op Livestock Mart committee to help them with costs associated with reopening the business.
Independent Cllr James Kelly said he hoped this would be done through the Council’s Business Support Unit, Local Enterprise Office and Laois Leader Partnership offices to provide all their supports, grant aids and professional expertise.
The motion was raised at the November meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District, where it received unanimous support from the rest of the elected members.
Cllr Ollie Clooney said the mart gave a great service to the community, and that “it was a great day out for people living on their own.”
“They need support from any direction they can get it. Surely to God, in this day and age, we can get a bit of support for this mart.”
Cllr Seamus McDonald said it was a “huge loss” to see the mart go, saying its presence had been great for Mountrath and the surrounding areas.
There was also support from Cllrs John King, Conor Bergin, and Paddy Bracken, with Cllr Bracken suggesting a rates exemption for the mart.
In response, Ms Evelyn Reddin, Head of LEO said:
“To-date we have been in contact with Mountrath Co-op Livestock Mart Committee advising them on the various supports that might be available through the LEO Office to help them with the re-opening of the businesses.
“As advised to the committee, our capital funds are directed towards manufacturing and export orientated businesses which means unfortunately that LEO would not be able to provide funding support for the reopening of the mart.
“There may be some options at a later stage if they were looking to diversify into something else but at the moment they are only looking at a return to business as per previous operations.
“We will continue to engage with the committee in terms of soft supports i.e., mentoring/training etc that they might wish to avail of at a later stage.”
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