Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That was quite complex. I appreciate the Minister of State had to cover a lot of ground. However, the real focus I am attempting in my question is on small farmers throughout this country who are sustaining rural communities with a maximum of 40 acres and cannot be given permission to build for in-house cattle. That is why they are out-wintering in the first place. We have cut stone in beautiful parts of the world in the west of Ireland. These farms are small and sustainable. Their principal income does not derive from farming. Out-wintering is an essential part of farming that sustains these rural communities. They want to be able to keep small numbers of stock outside with no fertiliser or spreading of slurry. They are using their facilities. We want to keep these people on the land and in their communities in a sustainable way. I ask the Minister of State to look at some future guidelines that perhaps focus on this small cohort of farmers who wish to continue to be successful in farming in their rural communities up and down this country. I again thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response.