Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also commend Macra na Feirme for highlighting this issue and ensuring it would not go away. The Minister knows I am an incredibly positive person and always welcome positive developments. I did so last week when it was announced that additional supports would be made available. I actually commended the Minister on his role in that. I expected he would play some role in the funding of it, however.

Only subsequently did I learn that the funding the Minister outlined is coming from Teagasc's existing budget so there was no additional funding provided by his Department or any other. This is not to say that the scheme, as it stands, is not welcome. What it says to me is that we can go further. We can ensure that every student who attends an agricultural college course can receive the same level of supports, recognising they are all going through the same difficulties as a result of Covid-19. I would appreciate it if the Minister would outline whether he will endeavour to make sure that this will happen.

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