Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The income averaging is not available to any other sector. It is a hugely beneficial opportunity for the agriculture sector. It is not to be discounted and people should not ignore it. That came following the 2014 review. We are doing another review, and it will be a good one, so that we can have targeted measures for the areas that need the most. If that is income volatility, it will come out in the wash with the analysis lead by the Department of Finance in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the stakeholders. That is the right thing to do. Whatever funding we have and whatever resources we put towards the farming sector, which I know better than most and I would say I know no less than anyone involved in the sector, we want to prioritise those targets to the areas that need them most in order to keep a vibrant agricultural sector and rural sector. We are doing what the Deputy is asking but we will undertake take a bigger review. I hope and anticipate that we can make sure that the areas that might need it most are targeted. The only way to do that is based on analysis and focusing funding where it is required. That is what we will do.

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