Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Before opening the discussion to members, I will ask one or two questions. While I welcome the significant funding for TAMS, as we all know, building costs have increased beyond all recognition in the past six months. The €80,000 ceiling in place for farmer investment in TAMS has become inadequate. Will the Minister review that ceiling? Any construction work on farms now quickly exceeds that ceiling. Changing the ceiling will have an impact and extra funding will be needed. If TAMS is to maintain relevance for farmers in the context of increased costs, the ceiling for TAMS has to be looked at. Costings were examined late last year and have been revised. With the cost of raw materials now, the ceiling definitely needs to be revised.

On TB, I welcome the increased focus on wildlife. We can see the results of that. As the Minister said, we have seen a reduction in the number of reactors for the first time since 2015. Is that completely focused on badgers? Are resources being put into controlling the deer population?

Will the Minister provide a breakdown of the €53 million allocated to Bord Bia? Where will that money be spent and how has it been allocated? If that detail is not available today, I ask the Minister to revert to the committee with an answer.