Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle officially opened forestry consultancy firm Veon’s new regional office in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim last Tuesday (November 7).

The minister highlighted the major economic benefits to the local Leitrim economy of having an abundant supply of commercial forestry on their doorstep.

Commenting on the launch, Momme Reibisch, regional manager for Veon North-West, commented on the opening, stating: “The new office will become a focal point for many of our Leitrim farm forester clients and I look forward to discussing any of their forest planting and harvesting requirements or needs.”

Veon has announced that it is committed to providing the “highest levels of professionalism to our clients – most of whom are farmers”.

In the business of forest management for over 25 years, the firm currently manages over 40,000ac of “high-quality commercial forests” in Ireland. Veon claims to have established over 15,000ac of forestry throughout the country.

Minister Doyle welcomed the new office as a vote of confidence in the commercial forestry sector in the north-west and the increasingly important role that forestry plays in providing income diversification opportunities for farmers – especially in light of continuing uncertainty over the effects of Brexit on farm incomes.

“Commercial forestry plays a highly significant role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and is our primary weapon in countering the devastating effects of climate change, the results of which we recently experienced in the north-west in August,” Minister Doyle said.

Furthermore, forestry has been proven to lessen the impact of water run-off from cloudbursts, by helping the soil absorb greater amounts of water and thus reducing the flow and consequent damage to people’s property and local communities.

Veon Ltd covers in all aspects of the business, including afforestation and forestry management services such as: forest planning; forest audits; forest plantation sales; forestry insurance; fire protection; wind-farm services; and forest valuations.

Veon is headquartered in Co. Dublin and has four regional offices strategically located throughout Ireland, situated in counties Wexford, Galway, Leitrim and Kerry.

Also present at the event were Colm Hobbins, Cathal Gleeson and James Quinn who, together with Momme Reibish, make up Veon’s team in Leitrim.