Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)

We need a national campaign. Perhaps the partnership and Leader groups might get involved in providing grant aid for farmers. We must put in place a trap system as the bounty system has failed to work. There is evidence of this in Iceland particularly, as during the years the population has grown, despite the existence of several bounty schemes. I will speak to the Minister later, but perhaps something might be done with the rural development groups in providing Leader programme funding and grant aid for local farmers. Mink which are trapped could be used as part of a commercial activity to offset the cost of trapping the animals. I do not know, however, if that suggestion would be feasible.

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