The new specialised investment scheme offers 40 per cent funding for investment on poultry farms.

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said that their strong campaign over the last year has paid off, and helped to secure the new investment.

IFA Poultry Chairman Nigel Renaghan said the IFA Poultry Committee made strong representations at all levels on the need for investment at farm level to maintain the highest standards that processors and Bord Bia rightly insist upon.

As a result, poultry farmers are now able to avail of 40 per cent grant aid on a number of on-farm investments. IFA representation also ensured that poultry was included in the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, which opened in June and offers a higher rate of grant aid of 60 per cent.

Nigel Renaghan welcomed the announcement of the new scheme, and paid tribute to the Minister for Agriculture and other public representatives for their engagement on the need for poultry investment support.