Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On a point of information that might be of use and interest, we are reviewing the RSS. We will start that process very soon. We will look at all suggestions to retain people on it, but also to bring others onto it.

I take Deputy Ó Cuív's suggestion about how it was previously done. That can be looked at. I suspect that it is one of the more expensive suggestions and there will be questions around how we budget for it but we are open to suggestions. Regarding the background pattern in terms of the drop from €108 million to €59 million, I suspect the number of small farms has decreased dramatically during that time. It is hard to push against but we are open to any and all suggestions to increase participation in the RSS.