A CARRIGANS meat plant has been rewarded almost €2.5m to support market diversification and build a new customer base following Brexit.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue announced funding of €70 million for many of the country’s meat and dairy processors.

The funding will go towards 22 projects in the meat and dairy sectors, to enable them to develop and diversify, following Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU).

The investment into Donegal Meat Processors in Carrigans is worth €2,422,690.

The government’s €70 million ‘Capital Investment Scheme for the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products’ is aimed at helping farmers and those working in food production to diversify their offering, to attract new markets and customers, making their business more resilient and sustainable into the long-term.

Minister Charlie McConalogue said, “This government is committed to supporting our agri-food sector and ensuring that Ireland’s reputation for high-quality, safe, and sustainable food production is maintained and enhanced.

“New product development and market diversification go hand-in-hand.

“The €70 million investment will assist the sector expand current markets and increase sales of higher value-add products in the global marketplace, maintaining our position as the sustainable food capital of the world.

“The key to these strategic investments is bringing benefits for all those along the supply chain, particularly farmers as the critical primary producer who are the bedrock of €14 billion export sector,” Minister McConalogue added.