Mr. Eoin Kinsella:

Since the abolition of the milk quotas, there has been a small increase but we have a very small number of dairy farmers in the area. If I am correct, the report of the Clare project had different figures in terms of cattle farming only and tillage farmers. If the whole catchment was to change to tillage only or arable only, the excess nitrate would be a lot higher. If it were pasture only, it would be a lot lower. A few little things, such as imported feeds, were not taken into account. There has not been any major change. Those of us who are living and farming in the area have probably seen more on the tillage side. For the dairy farmers, it is about the season and the arable side in taking up grassland for the production of milk.