Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Irish Sport Horse Industry: Discussion

3:30 pm

Mr. Jim Power:

I am sorry. I misinterpreted the Senator's question. I thought she said "world development programme". I beg her pardon. I have looked at the rural development programme and it would definitely be a fit. There is no doubt that it works to diversify the whole rural economy and adds value.

Given the discussion we have just had about beef prices in the last session, for example, the pressure on beef farmers and what is happening on the tillage side, there is no doubt that there is a need for rural diversification. Many small farms could generate meaningful economic entities in this area.