Mr. Pat McCormack:

To answer Senator Cullinane, Glanbia has spent €180 million and Dairygold, which is not in the region, has spent €120 million. The Tipperary Co-op has invested heavily in its cheese plant to move forward with its Food Harvest 2020 ambition. I omitted to mention that the Irish Dairy Board had made a significant investment in securing markets for post-2015. As an exporting nation, we need this.

The farmers to whom the Senator spoke were right. If a farmer goes from milking 60 cows to milking 100 cows, he or she does not want to spend four hours in the parlour or whatever the case may be. There is a dairy equipment scheme. With the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, we hope that an enhanced scheme will be available to farmers under Pillar 2 as we head towards 2014 and 2015. If farmers increase their numbers, they must have sufficient slurry storage facilities. We made a strong case to Teagasc and the Department regarding the nitrates directive. The dairy cow is not permitted to be outwintered. Facilities must be available, even if there is only an eight week winter. In particular, parts of County Kilkenny-----