Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a fair question. I have told farmers that I want to hear about it if they are not getting the same level of service as they had previously. For example, we have watched closely the moving of some of the administration staff from Clonakilty into Cork city but there is still desk space for farmers to go into Clonakilty to get advice and what they need from the Department. In truth, I have not had any evidence to suggest there is a reduction in the quality and standard of service. That is not to say that it is not the case. I am just saying that the feedback I have got from farmers has not been negative.

This is all about making savings here to ensure we do not have to make savings elsewhere that will cut farmers' incomes. Ultimately, that is what we are trying to do. Since 2008, the cost of running this Department is down by almost €90 million. That is incredible when one thinks about it, and the standard of service in the Department has probably increased in that time.

In terms of the benchmarks one might set around payments, disease control and support for farmers, the evidence I have seen would suggest that the service has improved even though we are providing it with far fewer people. That involves many sacrifices within the Department, and I would be hugely complimentary of the management in the Department in terms of managing that change but even more complimentary of the people who have been subject to that change having to essentially restructure their lives around a different job, having to be trained to move into other Departments and so on, and all of that has been done without any industrial unrest. We are trying to address people's concerns where possible but at the same time we have to stick with the agenda of reform so that we can keep making the savings we need to make.