I address this question to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed. Both know the knowledge transfer system for farmers is in absolute chaos. It was supposed to be up and running on 31 May. I welcome the fact that it has been put back to 31 July. The reality is that the system has crashed time and time again. I also understand that the online system for booking meetings with the Department has also crashed. This is not the first time that this has happened with a Department. The Department of Social Protection had the same issue with maternity benefit some weeks ago. I am not sure what the Taoiseach can do about it in his last two weeks or what the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine can do about it but we must get to the bottom of this. What can be done to stop this happening? It is creating difficulty for the farming community at present.

I thank Deputy Eugene Murphy for raising this matter. The closing date of the knowledge transfer scheme has been extended by two months. We do not anticipate that there will be any delay in payments associated with it.