My New Year’s resolution is to bring you a sample of local, national and international “news bites” that are hopefully of interest to you, our readers. So without further ado here is the latest installment of “News Bites”.
Irish Food and Drink Export Performance and Prospects for 2009/2010
A Bord Bia industry survey completed in late December 2009 confirmed the market related challenges being faced by food and drink manufacturers across both export markets and the Irish market. The prospects for 2010 point to a return to growth as the year progresses. The potential for stronger export revenues from key indigenous sectors such as dairy and meat and the expectation that investments by prepared food companies to broaden their market presence on the Continent will help exports as 2010 progresses. However, developmentsin Sterling and consumer sentiment will remain critical. [read more ...]
Community shopping spirit
A community-run shop in the Warwickshire village of Claverdon has gone from strength to strength, and is now set to move from its temporary home to a custom-made building. After the parish council announced it was setting up the shop, it was flooded with offers of help and funding. It is staffed by volunteers based in the Warwickshire commuter town. It signed up more than 100 supporters to pay a subscription towards the cost of opening and running the shop. [read more ...]
CSO figures highlight realities of regional and rural unemployment
Irish Rural Link (IRL) - the national network campaigning for sustainable rural communities -has said the CSO’s live register figures published on Monday the 11th of January highlight the issue of rural and regional unemployment. The largest percentage increases in December were in the Mid-West (Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary) and Mid-East (Meath, Kildare, Wicklow) regions (both +3.2%) and the smallest percentage increase was in the Dublin region (+1.8%). [read more ...]
Income figures reveal worrying trends for Westmeath and the midlands
The recently published county income figures from the Central Statistics Office must give cause for concern for policy makers and those who wield influence across Westmeath. The trend has been clearly downward since 2003. And even accepting the CSO’s own caution, the now four-year decline is clearly not a statistical quirk but a reflection of a real problem on the ground. On a regional level, the statistics also highlight a worrying issue; for the first time in the decade, the Midland was the country’s poorest region, falling below the Border area of (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo). [read more ...]
A small Irish rural business bsing Social Media brilliantly with no budget
A small Italian cafe and takeaway in Limerick are making tremendous use of social media to help grow their business and build their brand. [read more ...]
Bryan aims high with priority on price increases, cutting red-tape, REPS and the single farm payment
The first ever Kilkenny president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) officially took over the reins of power on Tuesday. A large number of supporters from the county were present when John Bryan from Inistioge addressed the 55th agm of the IFA. He wants to increase prices paid to farmers across all sectors; to reduce costs and bureaucracy; pay farmers properly under the new rural environment protection scheme (REPS) and to protect the Single Farm Payment. [read more ...]
Farm Waste Management Scheme
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, confirmed that his Department has authorised payment of €190 million in respect of the second tranche of grant payments of 40 per cent under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Payments will commence this week with the majority of payments being made today. [read more ...]
Pub closures having negative effect on rural life, says FG TD
Pub closures are having a detrimental effect on the quality of life in rural communities, according to Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony. “Rural isolation is a major issue and the impact of pub closures on community spirit, especially on those who live alone or in relative isolation, should not be underestimated”. [read more ...]
Comments are open at the bottom for you to add your thoughts. Any and all input welcomed.
