Demand for dairy workers has risen by 15% to 20% since last year, Farm Relief Services has said.

The shortage of skilled workers has become even more acute since last year as herd sizes continue to expand. Average herd size has grown from 54 cows in 2005 to 80 in 2017.

Pádraig Madden of FRS told the Irish Farmers Journal the 20-day course aimed at training drystock farmers, women or people on social welfare to work in the dairy sector has seen almost 30 people trained since its launch in September.

The course has been run in agricultural colleges in Kilkenny, Waterford, Cavan, Carlow and Tipperary, with more planned for Limerick, Cork and Donegal next month.

“To date, 27 people have been trained nationwide, with four days of intense training in the college and 16 days of on-farm training,” Madden said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s solved the problem, but it’s helping and it’s something that we’re going to spread across the country.”

The number of agricultural students available for dairy work is also a concern as the economy picks up and they move towards construction jobs.

Last year, both the IFA and FRS made a submission to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) requesting an easing of the visa requirements for skilled dairy workers from non-EU countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

However, the application was turned down as the DBEI did not see the agricultural sector as needing additional foreign labour while 244,000 Irish people were on the employment register.

However, Madden remains confident FRS will be able to source labour from non-EU countries.

“We have a number of New Zealanders coming over and filling out their paperwork. Personally, I see it as something that has potential to start small and grow,” Madden stated.

Filipino workers

A New Zealand company called Immigration Placement Services is offering to place experienced Filipino workers with Irish farmers.

Managing director Bruce Porteous said the company has extensive experience recruiting Filipino workers for New Zealand dairy farms.

However, Irish farmers will have to get Government approval for their work visas.

If anyone is interesed in taking part in an FRS training course they get in touch via their website - www.frsnetwork.ie

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