Mr. John Spink:

On curriculum change in regard to the MAC measures, forestry has been a part of the green cert since September 2018, so that is covering off the forestry side. In terms of the curriculum more generally, we have produced guidelines for all of the Teagasc farms, including the college farms, whereby they must be managed using practices such as protected urea and trailing shoes in regard to climate change, but also broader sustainability in regard to things like hedgerow management. All of our farms, including college farms, will be managed in that way so it will be an inherent part of the curriculum. When students come into the colleges, they will be seeing in practice the things we are recommending.

A further part of the question concerns what we are doing in terms of promoting the uptake of the MAC or the actions within the MAC. All of the actions within the MAC are being incorporated into our standard advice. All of our dairy specialists and livestock specialists, through in-service training, are being brought up to date with the measures in the MAC and issues such as protected urea. The advice that comes out from next spring on fertiliser use will all be in line with the MAC. In 2020, we will also be setting up a network of climate change demonstration farms around the country so farmers can see first-hand some of these practices actually taking place.