The Department of Agriculture’s clarification on Wednesday evening that essential farm building work can continue during Level 5 coronavirus lockdown was timely, the ICMSA farm and rural affairs chair has said.

Denis Drennan said that ICMSA members currently building facilities had been expressing concern about their ability to complete projects on time - projects that Drennan said were certainly essential in farming terms.

In particular, the completion of milking parlours and related facilities, installation of milking machines and calf housing were raised as specific concerns and the Department has confirmed that these projects can continue.

Precautions

“Obviously, all the people involved in these projects need to take all the necessary precautions so that the work is completed while maintaining the health of all those involved,” Drennan said.

“Traditionally, this is the time of the year when the upgrades of milking facilities is carried out in advance of the calving season due to begin in the next few weeks.

“We’d consider silage slabs to be similarly essential and we’ll require favourable consideration of that work further along in late March and April.

“But, for the time being, it was absolutely essential that these projects were allowed to continue and the Department’s clarification on this matter is welcome and timely,” he said.