Mr. Denis Duggan:

As the pillar says, it is really about trying to diversify. That is not to take from the very valued State funding we have from Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but it is a matter of trying to find additional sources of funding. The Senator touched on Skillnet Ireland, for example. Last year, Skillnet had an open call for new networks. We made an application and, unfortunately, were unsuccessful coming out of that process. We have continued to engage with Skillnet Ireland, and it intends to open a call next year for other new networks. There was an equestrian Skillnet about ten years ago. It ceased to exist. The Skillnet model is very relevant in our industry, given that it is an industry worth €1 billion and supporting 15,000 jobs. That is definitely a significant priority, which we will be pursuing with Skillnet Ireland again next year.

A new round of PEACE funding opened recently, and that is something we are exploring. It must be borne in mind that the items called out within the strategic plan are over the next two years, until the expiry of this current plan. Because we are in Kildare, it is natural for us to look at engaging with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. It is really about an exploration to see what funding, programmes and courses could be offered to the broader equine industry. From the listening exercise we spoke about with Deputy Kerrane, our stakeholders report to us very regularly about skills gaps, particularly in the areas of horsemanship grooms. Finding grooms is a significant challenge for the industry. It has been an engagement with both Skillnet and the education and training board to see if we can-----