Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The funding of €100,000 is there for research to develop opportunities and potential for domestic use and income from wool.

We will be very much guided by the submissions we receive and we will reflect on the suggestions coming out of that to see how we can best utilise that funding to try to ensure there are new opportunities. If any opportunities present, we will look to develop them. It has been a very challenging space for farmers over the last years where wool prices have not been able to cover the cost of clipping. It is certainly a long way from where it used to be. It is a tremendous product and it can have other uses. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, is very committed to developing this also. If there is anything we can do to try to identify new uses and sources for such a sustainable product and to deliver an income for farmers, that is what we will do as we identify the ideas and suggestions that will come through the consultation.

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