Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3397. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide new entrants to the sheep welfare scheme with a rolling reference number to allow them to establish their flock. [40170/21]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016 and provides a valuable support to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare. The scheme was initially set-up as a four year scheme, which was renewable annually. The initial four year period expired on the 31st of January 2021. An allocation of an additional €17m in funding was provided in Budget 2021 to extend the scheme for a fifth year as we enter the transitionary period ahead of the introduction of the new Common Agricultural Policy. An amendment to the RDP was required to give affect to the extension of the Sheep Welfare Scheme for a fifth year.
The use of an historical reference period was included in the scheme terms and conditions when the scheme was launched. It was approved by the European Commission at the time, as a mechanism to ensure that the maximum budget available for the Scheme under the RDP was not exceeded and that the Scheme did not serve to incentivise production.
I have listened to farmers' requests to update the historical reference period from the original 2014/2015 reference year and I am happy to confirm that the reference period will be updated. This is an important step in supporting progressive and expanding sheep farmers, while maintain prudent financial management and not incentivising production.
