Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has stated that he will continue to liaise with the banks on liquidity for the primary sector and to ensure the availability of working capital assistance to farmers through Microfinance Ireland's Covid-19 business loan. Given existing levels of farm debt, how might that factor impact on eligibility for the Microfinance Ireland loan? For example, average farm debt increased by 10% for dairy enterprises in 2018 to €118,446, according to the Teagasc national farm survey. Overall debt on Irish farms increased by 2% in 2018, although debt and investment varied depending on enterprise. How would this play out?

I have been informed by Rehab that in January, just as the general election was called, service providers were told the HSE planned to make a 1% energy efficiency saving across the disability budget. This amounted to €200 million out of a budget of €2 billion. If implemented, it would mean services would be cut or planned services would not go ahead. It was reported late last year that the funding crisis in the disability sector has become so critical that the future of services for up to 65,000 men, women and children is now at serious risk. Any further cuts would completely destabilise the sector, possibly to the point of no recovery. Does the Taoiseach foresee this cut being implemented? If so, will he consider a suspension, given the scale of the challenge facing the disability sector and section 39 organisations more generally?

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