Farmers will require further details of the Government’s construction shutdown from Wednesday’s cabinet meeting to find out to what extent on-farm construction will be affected.

The Government is expected to approve a proposal to cease the majority of building work nationwide, with the exception of social housing constructions and essential refurbishment.

The extent of the ban could impact on farm work, although animal welfare needs will likely be taken into account by the Government, as they were in the first lockdown in March 2020.

At that time, the Department of Agriculture advised that farm-related construction that is essential for animal welfare should continue.

It gave examples of work it considered critical such as finishing the upgrading of pig housing or poultry housing needed to house animals in the near term, work on silage pits for the storage of fodder or calf housing required immediately.

Dairy farmers in particular are in the midst of a construction race as they take advantage of the dry period to press on with work on upgrading milking parlours, building new parlours and enhancing calf housing.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue is expected to relay the Government’s updated advice for this current lockdown following the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.