Large crowds attend Longford rugby club for farmer's meeting with Agriculture Minister

More than 100 farmers and interested observes were in attendance at Longford Rugby Club to hear from Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.
The event, which was organised by Longford Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty heard how the Government is continuing to further the cause of farm families and rural dwellers across the country but particularly in Longford.

Minister McConalogue outlined how the government is investing rural housing and infrastructure.
The Minister also spelled out how his work is supporting faming families through the new CAP which has record funding of €9.8bn, the flagship €1.5bn ACRES agri-environmental scheme, the new Suckler Cow scheme which will pay farmers €150/cow compared to €90/cow on the outgoing BDGP as well as a 500% increase in funding for Organics.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister McConalogue said: “I was delighted to be in Longford with Deputy Flaherty and the rest of the Fianna Fáil team. It was an excellent meeting with the audience highly engaged and knowledgeable on a range of key issues. I was pleased to be able to outline the work Fianna Fáil is doing in Government to support the people of rural Ireland in particular, the people of Longford.
“That is what my Working for Rural Ireland tour is all about. Listening to the voices on the ground and taking their comments, suggestions and ideas to help feed into national policy”