Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2023
376. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of sheep registered at present in the country; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past five years; the potential for the industry in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12191/23]
View answerIn line with the provisions of the Animal Health Law (Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/429) and its supplementing legislation, my Department undertakes an annual sheep census, generally on 31st December.
The total number of sheep recorded in the DAFM Sheep Census for each year from 2017 to 2021 is detailed in the Table below. The data shows minor fluctuations in total recorded sheep numbers over those years, with the 2021 figure displaying a 3.9% increase on the 2017 data.
DAFM Annual Sheep Census 2017 – 2021
Total number of sheep recorded
|
2017 |
3,874,898 |
|
2018 |
3,732,955 |
|
2019 |
3,809,368 |
|
2020 |
3,877,222 |
|
2021 |
4,024,727 |
Annual census reports are published on my Department's website and can be accessed at gov.ie - Animal Identification & Movement (AIM) (www.gov.ie) . It is expected that the 2022 Annual Sheep Report will be finalised in late May 2023.
The Government is fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. I recognise that our sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product.
My Department provides significant support to the sector under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), both through a new targeted scheme for sheep farmers - the Sheep Improvement Scheme - and through the broad range of schemes in the CSP which are open to all farmers.
The new Sheep Improvement Scheme under the CSP is the core targeted support for the sector from this year. It replaces the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme but shares the same aim of improving animal health and welfare in the sector, with a 20% increase in the ewe payment rate - from €10 to €12 - compared to the previous scheme.
The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period to 2027 for farm families. Sheep farmers are eligible for several other schemes in addition to Sheep Improvement Scheme, including the ACRES and Organics schemes, which are particularly suited to sheep enterprises or mixed beef and sheep enterprises. Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.
