Kieran O’Dowd has been appointed as a Land Mobility Service facilitator with special responsibility for the northwest. This is part of continuing efforts to put structures in place to ensure adequate resources exist to meet the demand from farmers and landowners for support in facilitating greater land mobility.
Since its inception, the service has demonstrated that with dedicated expertise, farmers can be facilitated to enter into new collaborative arrangements leading to a better return for both the farmer and the landowner.
The Macra Land Mobility Service was established with the generous financial support of FBD Trust. The provision of core funding by FBD Trust has been the single most important factor in getting this service off the ground. In addition, the financial and logistical support of the three pilot area co-ops – Dairygold, Aurivo and Glanbia – has been instrumental in creating awareness and delivering arrangements. The Department of Agriculture, which is continually striving for greater land mobility, will be part funding the additional facilitator for the next 12 months.
Aaron Forde, Kieran O’Dowd and Roberta McDonald discuss the Land Mobility Service and Aurivo joint programme
The service, now two years in operation, has 360 clients and has facilitated 138 arrangements. The service has industry-wide support and is making a difference.
Kieran is a barrister and solicitor. Through Macra Na Feirme, he has been involved in the Land Mobility Service from its inception and has built up a lot of experience in the area. This, together with his legal background, is ideal when it come to facilitating arrangements.
Kieran, in conjunction with Aurivo and Teagasc, will be organising Land Mobility information workshops in the northwest during December. Kieran can be contacted at 087 2065010 or info@landmobility.ie.