Mr. Mick O'Dowd:

The pilot phase quota of 6,000 has already been oversubscribed. The expression of interest form was for the purpose of expressing interest in the programme for the years 2019 and 2020. We are well on the way to filling the 2020 quota.

Deputy Martin Kenny asked some important questions about our objectives. The club technical team comprises people from Kepak and Glanbia coming together to help and support the farmer, at no extra cost to the latter, throughout the life span of the animals registered with the club. Our KK club was developed in the late 1990s and is still going strong with more than 50 members. The club approach is what we have always encouraged and strived for, building loyalty and supporting our farmers throughout the production cycle of their animals. We see this programme as being very similar. We hope in year one to have 100 to 150 farm members, with the average number of cattle per farmer likely to be in the region of 50 to 55. That is the typical number that has come back via the expression of interest form. On that basis, we expect a club membership in year one of 100, rising towards 1,000 by the time we hit our target of 50,000 animals per year.