Having been closed for the last five years, Mountrath Mart is set to re-open in July 2024 with the return of cattle sales to the ring.
While there were plans that the Co. Laois mart would open this week on Wednesday, March 6, there were some setbacks to the progress of the work being done at Mountrath.
Acting chair of Mountrath Mart co-op, Ken Holmes told Agriland there is “extra work” that needs to be done to get the mart ready for sales.
This work includes wiring, replacing screens, and getting weighing scales re-calibrated, along with installing WiFi in the mart.
Holmes added that there has been significant wiring done in the mart, and that there has been a “major clean-up” on the outside done already.
However, Holmes said “all going well,” the mart will re-open in July with full sales.
While calf sales were intended to be the focus for the reopening of the mart this month, Holmes said they are instead focused on getting ready for the important weanling sales in August/September.
Questions over whether the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) could provide financial assistance for livestock marts to re-open were recently raised in the Dáil.
Last month (Thursday, February 22), deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue if his department can provide grant aid or any other assistance to Mountrath livestock mart to-reopen for business.
Minister McConalogue replied to the Laois–Offaly TD to inform him of the work the DAFM can undertake to support livestock marts, and of the other roles the department can, and cannot undertake.
“While periodically, DAFM provides grant aid for marts to promote strategic departmental objectives, such as high standards of animal health, disease prevention or enhanced traceability, it is not the role of the department to provide funding for the re-opening of marts,” Minister McConalogue explained.
“There is no funding available from my department to livestock marts to re-open for business,” he added.