Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)

I thank the witnesses for being here today and for their presentations. I welcome the participants on the scheme who are here. I come from a farming background and am also from mid-Cork. In Cork, social farming is generally done through our local development companies. IRD Duhallow would be the one most local to me. I commend the witnesses on the fantastic work that social farming schemes do. It is very evident from listening to farmers and participants that it is making a real difference in people's lives. It is not just benefiting the participants but is also benefiting farmers. I would emphasise the impact it has on combating loneliness in rural Ireland and bringing communities together, since we are seeing a separating of communities at times. These schemes really bring communities closer together.

Aside from Kerry Social Farming, are all other social farming entities under Social Farming Ireland or is it largely local development companies? Are the rest of the social farming enterprises across the country run primarily by local development companies? Is Kerry an anomaly in that regard?