Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all our guests for coming in and for their very detailed opening statements. My first question is for the departmental officials. It is welcome that the horticulture support scheme is now open. It is needed. Mushroom and strawberry growers are being left out of this scheme. All the key challenges listed by the officials also impact on those growers, but I appreciate what the officials said regarding how the decision on who would get the funding was come to, and that they would try to target it to those most in need. On the 200% increase the Department can give, if that level of funding were increased or partially increased, could some of it be extended to those growers who have been left out of the scheme, should the decision be made to increase that fund by the 200% allowed?