Support services for farmers on the Cooley peninsula have been expanded because of the widespread hardship experienced as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak there.
Yesterday the Department of Social Welfare transferred two inspectors, normally based in its Dundalk office, to the Old Corn Mill in Riverstown. An advice centre has been set up by the IFA in the same building, which is open from early morning until late at night.
"They are coming to us with a lot of practical issues such as movement permits, veterinary restrictions, what they can and cannot do, social welfare and valuation problems," explained Mr Terence McGovern, co-ordinator of the centre, which is midway between Dundalk and Carlingford.
"A lot of farmers were very confused at the start. They didn't know where they were going next. There was a lot of misinformation and not enough factual information. That situation has improved from our meeting with the Minister for Agriculture. Every evening there is a briefing at 6 o'clock, and we are getting a list of the farmers affected [by restrictions]," he added.
The IFA has a direct line to the Department of Agriculture's regional control centre in the Ballymascanlon Hotel and is able to keep the farmers up to date on the latest information.
The centre also provides access to counselling services for any farmer who wishes to avail of them. It is accepted that the trauma of farmers will not be eased for some time, at least until the sheep population is restocked later this year.
