Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Farmers and their representative organisations recognise the importance of the wool council and the feasibility study. They have also warned that what is proposed needs to be supported and driven by the Government in conjunction with them. Action in respect of the various short-term goals is obviously crucial at this point. Will the Minister of State elaborate on the measures she is putting in place to support the develop of co-operatives? The feasibility study stresses that there is significant merit in the co-operative model because it creates commercial scale in capacity that individual farmers can achieve. It also facilitates more early-stage processing. The latter would give producers greater control. Producers would be best placed to develop and implement education and training opportunities as well.

The medium-to-long-term plan involves the establishment of wool co-operatives. This aspect will require considerable preparation. Has work in this regard already begun? Is the Minister of State engaging with existing co-operatives in order to obtain guidance?

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