Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply and I appreciate that prices are fluctuating but the reality is that the costs are much higher this year compared to last year and prices have dipped. In my neck of the woods in the north west region, prices are significantly below the figures for this time last year. The fluctuations appear shallower than is actually the case because the Department is using generic figures across the country.

A mechanism needs to be found to support sheep farmers. I note that the Minister of State used the phrase "technical efficiencies". For many sheep farmers, technical efficiencies are probably not possible. We cannot continue to develop technical efficiencies in a sector that is already at break-even point. We must assist sheep farmers either by finding new markets or providing a top-up subsidy.