Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is 450,000 weanlings are covered. We do not have final figures but it will be in or around the €20 million budgeted for. We will not have the exact figures until later this year. The ambition is to pay this scheme in the current calendar year.

On Brexit staffing, on which the Deputy has been asking a lot of questions, we are trying to manage a situation as prudently and effectively as possible. We made estimates and were involved in a central case scenario early on and in more recent times in terms of the necessary staffing requirement to deal with a crash-out Brexit. In a crash-out situation, there will be an escalating requirement for staff over a period of time. I am certain that should that happen next week or in May, we will be able to fulfil our obligations in respect of checking on trade coming from a third country and facilitating trade that we export to what then will be a third country.

As I understand it, the current staffing complement is in the region of 120, comprised of a mixture of veterinary inspectors, forest inspectors, technical staff, clerical officer portal inspectors, agricultural inspectors and a range of administrative staff. This complement may increase to 230 within a relatively short timeframe.