Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The EPA is the national scientific body that gathers the data, as the Deputy knows. It gathers that data in a robust and scientific fashion. It is important we support it to do that and ensure data is comprehensive as well. We will seek to continue to ensure there is funding in place to make sure the data we have best equips us to provide the best outcome for farmers. I agree it is important the EPA sticks to the science, but the agency is robust and provides robust scientific data and it is important that is its focus.

On a wider basis, there is the matter of how we work with Teagasc and the advisory services to support farmers with the practical implementation of advice on farms. We are doing that significantly, but we also announced recently a new €60 million water project that will see systems and services put in place to work directly with farmers and to pay them for actions they will be taking at farm level through the European Innovation Partnership, EIP, funding in areas of the country that most require that extra assistance and work. That is a significant investment I expect to see significant results from as well.