It is disappointing that a learned Member, an experienced Member of the House, did not read the Budget Statement and subsequent press release from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, in which he spoke about the issues the Senator raised. The Minister highlighted the closing date for the scheme in October. It was well flagged. The Senator probably knows better than I do that the February closing date allows for the optimum weighing time of calves and ensures prompt payment to farmers, which I assume is why he raised the matter in the first place. If we did not do that, the Senator would be criticising the delay in payment.

The Leader should try to get a big cow onto a scale sometime.

I did that on many occasions in my youth and in my not so youthful days because my grandparents and my uncle were farmers; I spent most of my summers farming. I actually learned to drive on a Massey Ferguson 20.

There was no beef scheme then.

Those were the days before roll bars.

The Leader was a small farmer.

We all acknowledge that 2018 was a very difficult year for our farming community, and the Minister is very committed to and has demonstrated his support for the beef sector, which is a pivotal part of our farming community. We have put in place-----

The Leader means to say "beef farmers".

-----a number of tailored schemes. As Senator Leyden knows, the Fine Gael Party has a history of great Ministers for agriculture, including the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, and the late Mark Clinton, to name but two.

The Leader should not forget James Dillon.

I am not surprised the Senator has made the argument about small and big farmers. It is what Fianna Fáil does. It talks the game.

No. We walk the walk.

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 benefiting 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.