Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think the message needs to be given out, and in fairness it would be very easy for me to say different in opposition, that there are a lot of good incentives for young farmers at the moment, between the young farmer's grant and the entitlements they will get. I think we need to be clear on that. In my opinion, we need to send out the message. When I started off, there was damn all. We did the courses and we had to have one labour unit and we were not able to do it at the time. Nowadays, there is a lot there for young farmers. We need to paint a picture as well. There is an idea that if you have 40, 50, or 60 acres, farming is nearly a waste of time. If you have the 50 or 60 acres and draw in the young farmer, get the entitlements, the areas of natural constraint scheme and go into an environmental scheme, along with the bit of farming - you do not have to be killing yourself - and your local job, you can be very sustainable in a local area. The message needs to go out to youngsters that they do not need this big money. If they do, it is in Dublin because it is a bit cheaper to build a house down the country.