Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Gleeson for his presentation. I concur with almost everything Deputy Ó Cuív has said. There is awful confusion with regard to this scheme. There is fear, in particular with regard to the clawback. If someone takes up the scheme and midway through it, for financial reasons, is no longer able to continue with it, there is a claw back and this could happen after four or five years. For example, if a farmer falls ill and is unable to continue for the six-year period, there is an understanding that this money will be clawed back. This is creating a lot of fear and I ask Mr. Gleeson to clarify the situation in his response.

The other issue is that a farmer must be at 60% by the third or fourth year, that 60% of the animals must be tested. The cost of those tests is around €30 a head which would work out at an average cost of €18 for an average sized herd. I understand that is at a loss to the applicant.

I refer to the four- to five-star genotype which must be realised by June 2019, as stated in Mr. Gleeson's presentation. If this is not realised, it is clawed back. In effect, it does not augur well. Deputy Ó Cuív said that a lot of people will pull out of the scheme and will not go ahead with it. What is the level of funding allocated for the scheme? If the full amount is not taken up, where does the surplus go? Mr. Gleeson stated that €166 is allocated for training purposes and that it can be done in four hours for those with an average second level education.

Many of the older farmers, and I mean no disrespect, who live in isolated rural areas might not have that opportunity. That needs to be considered. Many people would prefer to know exactly what they are getting into. There is a lot of confusion, not least among many Oireachtas Members. Before recommending the scheme to anybody, I would like to know exactly what it entails and the consequences for the farmers and so forth.

How does the reliability of four- and five-star artificial insemination, AI, bulls figure after the tests? Will the farmer be the victim if the expectation is not met?