Gardaí who are searching for a Kerry farmer who has now been missing for three weeks have taken almost 100 witness statements.

Michael Gaine, who is also known as Mike, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, on Friday (March 21).

The 56-year-old sheep and suckler farmer was last seen in Kenmare town, on Thursday, March 20.

Michael bought phone credit in Centra, Kenmare at 9:48a.m that morning before leaving in his bronze coloured RAV4 with registration 152 KY 366.

This vehicle was found parked in Michael's farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East, Kenmare.

Gardaí have today again renewed their appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the missing farmer.

Michael is described as being approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard.

When last seen, he was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.

Over the past three weeks, gardaí have carried out extensive searches and enquiries coordinated from an incident room at Killarney Garda Station.

Gardaí have conducted daily searches centred on Michael's farmyard, surrounding lands, water sources and roads.

They have been assisted by the Civil Defence, Irish Coast Guard Units, Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, Kerry Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue Dog Team, Kerry Fire Service and 200 civilian volunteers.

Since April 1, further help has been provided to gardaí in their search operation by the Irish Defence Forces.

This includes permanent and reserve members from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick, the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny and the 1st Field Engineer Company, Cork.

"Defence Forces personnel were deployed to search the wooded and marsh areas, utilising their experience, skills and capabilities in mountainous terrain, rugged landscape, and dense forest and undergrowth," a garda spokesperson said.

Specialist Garda members have also been drafted in for the search, including the Garda Water Unit, Divisional Search Teams and members undertaking investigative actions.

To date, gardaí have undertaken nearly 230 formal jobs/enquiries, taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered approximately 1,500 hours of CCTV/dash-cam footage.

Gardaí are continuing to keep Michael’s family informed and support his them through a Family Liaison Officer.

Despite the extensive enquiries carried out so far, gardaí said that they have not discovered what happened to Michael on March 20.

"Michael’s family have still had no contact from him and his family and An Garda Síochána are extremely concerned for his well-being.

"Gardaí are seeking information from anyone who can assist us in bringing Michael back to his family," the spokesperson said.

Gardaí continue to want to speak to any person who travelled on the N71 on Thursday March 20, after 9:48a.m.

They have appealed to anyone who may have any camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 in the Kenmare town/Moll’s Gap (N71/ R568) area to provide that imagery to the investigation team.

Any person who may have any information on Michael's whereabouts is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.