Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
563. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to adjusting the deadline for the national sheep welfare scheme actions to be completed, given concerns from sheep farmers and representatives organisations about the current October deadline and proposal to change to deadline to mid-November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16713/24]
View answerThe National Sheep Welfare Scheme opened for applications on 8 April 2024 and remains open until 23.59 on 21 May 2024 before a further 25 day late application period, albeit with late penalties. This €15 million sheep scheme will pay €8 per breeding ewe and will be addition to payments farmers may be eligible for under the Sheep Improvement Scheme where they are participating in that scheme also.
The National Sheep Welfare Scheme was designed in consultation with the farming organisations and the completion date for actions in the scheme of 15 October 2024 was included to facilitate payments under the scheme by my Department in mid November 2024. However in light of the concerns raised, my Department will implement a process to allow participants in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme opt for a later completion date of the actions to 25 November 2024, once my Department is informed of same by 15 September 2024. However, participants who opt for the later completion date will not see their payments made before end of December/early January 2025.
