Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have seen €300 million put in place to support the sector. The Senator spoke about the €20 million pilot scheme, €23 million for the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme and a heap of other schemes that are benefitting the farming community. It is important to recognise that the community has had a difficult year and that is why the Minister is engaging with the Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan, in the reform of the CAP to ensure that all farmers, not just those mentioned by the Senator, are understood and represented. I will be happy to have the debate in due course. The Minister, Deputy Creed, is very much supportive of the suckler sector. The national farm survey showed that farmers were given €500 per suckler cow and the point should be reinforced that supports have been put in place.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell made a very important point about an issue we need to address as a society and as a country, namely, the ongoing housing options for our ageing population and the types of care provided for them, whether it is in their homes, in community settings or resulting from downsizing. Access to care is multifaceted and multisectoral and we need to have a strong debate on this issue. The Senator produced a very fine report on housing choices and this must be just the beginning of our efforts. In tandem with the report, which is being launched tomorrow, the focal point must be on housing choices. If we learn nothing else from the recession about how we can deliver various types of housing, it should be that those who choose to downsize or to have a different housing model should be able to have that in a manner that allows them access to religious services, shopping facilities, the post office, banking, the hairdresser and such things.

In the village of Knocknagree, there are three families collecting child benefit at the post office. Forty years ago, every family in the village would have done so. We must ensure that we plan for that in our model of housing choice. We cannot do this on a piecemeal basis and must do it in a way that recognises that there are many different needs and that people living in the community should not be displaced nor discommoded. National planning policy must be able to articulate the view that housing choices for older people must be embraced in a real way. Government will argue that there are different forms of purpose-built housing and many different units are available. There are housing adaptation grants and housing supports but we must meet the projected changes in our population, which can only be done by having this conversation to lead us to the policy. In tandem with this issue is the choice of care and the way it is given and I would be happy for a debate in this House on the matter. Senator Reilly also commented on this.

Senator Devine raised the issue of mental health and I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House on the matter. I have not seen the report on tree-felling referred to by Senator Black. Perhaps a Commencement matter would be a more judicious way of getting an answer to her question. Senator Norris raised the issue of Brexit but I missed his other point.