Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the context of Teagasc's study on labour, as the Chairman stated, a bigger problem is coming down the line. While farmers might be struggling to get help, especially in the labour-intensive sector, contractors do most of the work nowadays because the best advice was that a busy dairy farmer would be better off getting someone in to do the work. They are struggling. There needs to be a holistic view for the farmer and the contractor in order to make it attractive to enter the sector. There is an idea that some type of apprenticeship should be brought in. If we do not do that, we will continue to struggle in all areas and there is no point in saying that we will not.