Mr. Bill Callanan:

To be clear, we are agnostic in terms of entry to schemes. The likes of agri-environment are available to all sectors, including dairy. The Deputy is entirely correct that a heat map of participation would show a significant focus on biodiversity within agri-environment and that tends to be those less intensive farmers. However, it is not that it is excluded. I think the committee had a presentation from Macra na Feirme. Its representative is a dairy farmer. I was on that farm in County Waterford as part of Agri Aware's open farm day. That representative is a participant in agri-environment, as I understand it.

The way we support more intensive farmers is through the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, in terms of slurry investment and the likes of solar panels in terms of displacement of their energy requirement. There are also opportunities within eco schemes. Under those schemes, there is space for nature but also the use of GPS equipment to minimise fertiliser use. It is about 10% less. For those who have reduced their fertiliser use, one of the options in the eco scheme is in terms of drawing down that support by more intensive farmers.