Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A review of the SBCI is due in the first half of next year. I will be looking at the options and opportunities as part of that review. This scheme has been a positive for the agrifood sector and a welcome enabler of low-cost loans and better competitive options for farmers. It is a scheme I am committed to continuing while also looking at what options would strongly support farm families in the process. The future growth loan scheme, which my Department operates in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has worked well, with 46% of it being drawn down by the sector. I hope the Brexit loan scheme, which we launched and opened for applications about a month ago, will be strongly supported too. In terms of the upcoming review with the SBCI of the streams, I will be looking to see how we can continue to use this as a support mechanism for the sector.