Dr. Anne Finnegan:

I thank the members for their questions. I note to Deputy Cahill that the total number of applications to AIB was 2,188. It is not surprising that the take-up figures in the tillage and pig sectors are low in comparison to other sectors given the number of operators in those sectors.

We work on the basis of approximately 200 commercial pig farmers and 1,000 commercial tillage farmers out of 6,000 overall. It is reasonable that the beef and dairy sectors account for the majority of the debt outstanding, as they are the predominant sectors.

Within AIB the demand from the tillage sector was particularly localised. From the latest figures last week, the tillage sector accounts for 6% of the funds drawn down or funds ready to be made available to be drawn down. That is what we would have expected. For the pig sector, the figure is similar to what the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, reported, namely, 1%. In respect of both but particularly the tillage sector, our experience is that demand was localised. For example, the majority of demands at the Enniscorthy branch are from the tillage sector. Demand in the pig sector would not be as concentrated, but it would be localised to some degree.

We have a strong market share in the pig sector, banking with some of the best and most efficient pig operators. It has been our experience in the pig sector that it goes through cycles over many years. The capacity of the most efficient pig sector producers to ride through these cycles is remarkable. To some degree, it is not surprising that they were able to come through last year because they had a lot of form in doing so. They are quite adept at managing through the lean years.

Mr. Cunningham has addressed the issue of utilising the funds for cash flow in 2017. That was part of the make-up of the scheme and eligible for finance under it. Farmers applied for it and where they were successful, we were happy to finance them.