I am grateful for the opportunity to deal briefly with the economic position in the Cooley Peninsula. A case of foot and mouth disease was confirmed in the area a number of weeks ago which resulted in a complete cull of the sheep population in the area. A significant percentage of the farming population is very dependent on the income it derives from sheep production. As a consequence, many farmers, especially those employed on a full-time basis, have found themselves dependent on farm assist or forced to seek alternative employment outside their normal role of working on sheep farms in the area. Adjusting to alternative employment for those who have spent their entire working lives on a farm, especially one on the hillsides, is not easy.
The issue of the repopulation of the area is being considered. While it may be early days, it is no harm for preliminary work to commence on the plans and strategy for repopulation. A task force is in place embracing various interests in the industry which will plan that strategy and implement it over a number of years. The greatest cause for concern is the serious loss of income. There will be no cashflow on many of the farms concerned. It is reasonable to assume the repopulation process will take a period of years as opposed to weeks or months. As a consequence, the problem will be with us into the foreseeable future.
Many farmers who have reached their mid-50s will be examining the potential offered to them by the revamped early retirement from farming scheme. I hope they can combine it with the installation aid scheme to allow sons or daughters or, perhaps, nephews or nieces to commence farming and derive the financial support available under both those headings.
In many other areas throughout the country the availability of initiatives under the general heading of rural development has been very worthwhile. While the county enterprise board and other agencies in Louth have actively encouraged investment in small and medium-sized enterprises, a point has been reached where there is a need to accelerate the efforts in the Cooley Peninsula. The population there will be interested to hear what the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Cuív, has to say. It is fortunate he has responsibility for rural development. There are strong similarities in the geography and economic structure of the Cooley Peninsula and the area of west Galway he represents. I will be delighted to hear from him. I invite him to visit the Cooley area to see the practical problems and difficulties there.