FARMING
OAK Smallholder Development Service
The Smallholder Development Service is a free and confidential service for farm families living within the West Offaly and OAK Partnership areas (North Offaly and North West Kildare). OAK Partnership and West Offaly Partnership in conjunction with Teagasc provide the Smallholder Development Service for farm families whose farm household viability is under serious threat.
Services Provided
- Agricultural Advice and Information: husbandry: beef, sheep, diary and tillage. Schemes: REPS, forestry, farm retirement, and installation aid. Form Filling: premia forms, area aid. Quota / Grant Applications. Planning Post Fischler Course, discussion group and farm information evenings
- Income Supports and Advocacy: Social Welfare (information, assistance with form filling and farm income appraisal), Farm Assist, Family Income Supplement, old age pensions and other entitlements, medical card applications, elder care support for disadvantaged smallholders
- Training Programmes: computers, machine certification, track digger, JCB, forklift etc, Business Development Programme, career path planning, Safe Pass, Care in the Home training Programme
- Employment Opportunities: OAK Employment Service, alternative enterprises on farm, Jobs Club, farm relief services, Rural Social Scheme/Community Employment Scheme.
For further information regarding the Smallholder Service contact:
Brian Lyons, Smallholder Development Worker
Tel: 046 9733350
Mobile: 086 8336873.
