Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is time the Minister stopped bluffing farmers about the Government's approach to the rural development programme. I have stated on several occasions that the Department is significantly underspending the allocation for the rural development programme. As matters stand, the Department is on course to record an underspend of €400 million in GLAS by the end of 2020. That figure is based on information provided by the Minister in a written answer. If he does the maths, he will see it is correct.

I outlined the reasons for re-opening the current beef data and genomics programme. The Minister gave a commitment that the scheme would be open for 35,000 farmers, yet it closed when 23,000 farmers had joined. There has also been a major underspend in that programme, which could be re-opened tomorrow if the Minister was willing to do so.

We have to recognise the pressure the suckler herd is under and ensure we are prepared for the challenge presented by Brexit. We must also ensure export markets, specifically for live exports, are re-opened, and we need to reduce administrative costs, specifically the €8 administrative cost of exporting a calf. It is also crucial that the Department provide additional support in the form of a suckler payment of €200. Otherwise, we will no longer have a suckler herd, on which many farmers depend, in a few years from now.

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