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

It will be important to see how many, if any, of the 867 applications made have been refused for whatever reason to allow us to understand if there is an issue there. If a stakeholder group of women farmers set up to represent women farmers is raising an issue of access to this scheme, it would be worthy of consideration by the Minister of State. Perhaps when this fourth tranche closes, she might agree to look at the eligibility criteria given that women farmers, who set up a group represent the women farmers, are the ones who have raised the issue and have done so in good faith.

I again reiterate that point 8 of the national women in agriculture action plan raises the scheme eligibility. Clearly, there is an issue here. It would be interesting to see the number that have not been approved and I would appreciate if the Minister of State could provide that to me. The Minister of State should at least look at the eligibility criteria. If there is an issue there, it should just be resolved. It is not a big deal and I imagine that it could be addressed quite easily.

See this speech in context