Dr. Josephine Brennan:

On the solar capital and licence scheme, as the Senator will be aware TAMS III will start in January of next year. There are a number of proposed changes in terms of the ceilings in TAMS and capital supports. For the solar investment scheme the proposed grant aid will be 60%. There is a proposed new ceiling, which has increased from €80,000 to €90,000. There is also a dedicated new ceiling for TAMS, which will impact on other investments that a person might take up. It is proposed to increase the ceiling from 11 KW, which is currently in TAMS II, to 30 KW for TAMS III. Also, the limit for pigs and poultry will remain the same at 62 KW. A solar survey is required to get an estimation of farm usage, and the amount of electricity that is produced and required on the farm. That is just the high-level stuff in terms of the solar scheme.

I will get back to the Senator directly about his question concerning contractors.