Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the contingent from Macra na Feirme and I agree with Senator Boyhan. Any time I have dealt with that organisation in the past 12 months, they have been professional. I agree with the Cathaoirleach that any scheme must be delivered for both the older farmers, existing farmers and younger farmers coming through. I have three brief questions, some of which have been touched upon already. I mention the start-up grant aid and I want to talk about the young farmers scheme for a moment. Mr. Keane says that 4,000 of 8,700 applicants received the last young farmers scheme payment in 2019, even though many still qualified for it due to the five-year rule. He has also pointed out that there are not enough young farmers to replace those who have moved out of the schemes. Can Mr. Keane outline the consequences of this to the committee and what he would like to see happen to address this particular issue with the system?