The Government support for the beef and sheep processing sector announced yesterday (24th May) includes support for three Dawn Meats facilities, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Charleville, Co. Cork and Grannagh, Waterford.

Dawn Meats is investing over €35m in these plants of which €13.7m comes for the Government aid package.

This strategic investment plan, including Government support is designed to add value to the beef and lamb industry, eliminate expensive overcapacity & provide long-term sustainable employment in this critical indigenous industry. The investment plan when completed will further enhance the company's ability to compete in the international marketplace at the appropriate scale.

Dawn Meats also received Government support for a new joint venture. This initiative is the first of its kind in the Irish meat industry.  The new company, Kilbeggan Abattoir Services Limited, (KASL), is set up to develop a new €25m beef slaughter facility at Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, the beef heartland of Ireland.  

The total proposed investment by Dawn Meats of €47.5m represents the largest investment by any beef and lamb company in Ireland.

In a statement the company said that its investment demonstrates its long term commitment to the farming industry and sustainable employment.  The investment in Ballyhaunis has already been made in accordance with the grant scheme rules to create the most modern large scale processing facility in the country for beef and lamb.

The support by the Government and Enterprise Ireland for the largest investment by an Irish beef and lamb company endorses Dawn Meats vision of the required development of the Irish meat industry into the future. The elimination of over capacity and the development of world-class processing facilities which provide an efficient route to market for Irish farmers will result from this investment and will allow the company to continue to grow it's market share by competing with larger European processors", said the company.