Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State confirm the figures, namely that 867 applications were received and that 333 of those were approved? Can she advise if any have been refused? She will be well aware that the women in agriculture stakeholder group has raised concerns about the eligibility criteria. Last summer, when it was introduced, it flagged its fear that it would lock some women out of accessing this really important support.

The Minister of State should listen to the concerns of the likes of the stakeholders group. We should draw on their expertise and review the eligibility. I know it was also raised at point 8 of the recommendations under the new national women in agriculture action plan, which reinforced that eligibility needs to be looked at in these schemes.

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