Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An example of a 100-cow dairy farm was given. There are approximately 18,000 dairy farms in the country. The witnesses might work out on the back of a fag packet what tonnage of CO2 per annum might be generated if all that was capitalised on. Hopefully, Dr. Shalloo heard the witnesses speaking about solar energy earlier. We asked them about the return on this. They stated that a 50 acre solar farm would have a return of more than €50,000 per annum. That can be considered along with a sheep farming enterprise. That would be a considerable return for any farm and most farmers would probably jump at it. One hears those numbers, see where we are, and has misgivings about where we need to go. Does Dr. Shalloo think that Teagasc is doing enough or does it need to be more productive? There is much education to be done here. Teagasc's website hosts seminars. I appreciate it has been restricted in what it can do for the past two years. It has a role in sending a message to and educating farmers. I feel that Teagasc is only getting to grips with this now and is behind. Much needs to change with legislation. Teagasc is a primary mover in this. Will Dr. Shalloo expand on how Teagasc will bring farmers along?