Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this broad topic. As Deputy O'Donovan spoke about Pallaskenry college, it would be remiss of me if I did not mention the agriculture college in Mountbellew, which in recent years has been bursting at the seams with new students wanting to get into agriculture and agribusiness. I ask the Minister to do all he can to ensure the college is properly staffed. Mountbellew is somewhat different from other Teagasc colleges in that it is privately run but it needs all the support it can get. As one of the last remaining colleges in the west, it receives farmers from County Donegal, throughout Connacht and as far south as County Cork. The college also offers courses towards the green certificate for people who see a future in farming on the land. That course is also over-subscribed. Young men and women throughout the country want to get into this sector.

The issue that arose this year is the pressure on the beef and suckler sector. The suckler cow is everything in Connacht. The cost of keeping suckler cows has become excessive in recent years, which creates pressure for the entire area. If prices decrease, the cost becomes excessive and uncompetitive. We all know the importance of the suckler cow scheme, but that did not stop the party opposite from cutting it in 2009. It also cut the disadvantaged area payment, installation aid and the early retirement scheme in 2009. It is important we restore these areas. As Deputy O'Mahony noted, 300 young farmers lost out because installation aid was cut overnight. These are the same people the Minister is trying to assist under the young farmers scheme, with great difficulty.

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