Vol. 408 No. 9
16 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider reviewing the system of ewe headage payments in upland areas due to the severe effects of overgrazing on the ecology of these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is a limit of three ewes per acre of mountain grazing on which payment may be made under the sheep headage scheme in Ireland's disadvantaged areas and I am satisfied that this restriction operates by and large to prevent overgrazing in upland areas.
If any definite evidence of overgrazing arising from that scheme is tendered to my Department, it will be considered carefully, of course, to see whether any changes in the scheme are necessary.
I can assure the Minister that he will get plenty of complaints from me as a result of his response. I have had considerable correspondence and telephone calls from environmentalists and ecologists in this area. Would the Minister agree that there has to be a better way of keeping these farmers on the land — I accept that they should be kept on the land — and enabling them to earn their livelihood than paying this absurd premium on ewes, which bears no resemblance to reality and is subsidised by the EC.
The scheme has proved absolutely invaluable in areas where the aid has been available in keeping many farm families on their holdings. Certainly on the basis of the statistics I have, the suggestion that there is overcrowding is not borne out, but if the Deputy has specific examples and conveys them to the Department they can be considered.
At present the Community is approximately 82 per cent self-sufficient in sheep meat. Given the restrictions in different farm enterprises we would have to be very careful about the suggestion in the Deputy's supplementary question, having regard to the fact that it is an invaluable source of income for many farmers around the country.
This scheme has been an invaluable source of livelihood for thousands of farmers over the years. The Minister said there was a limit of three ewes per acre. Is there now a trend towards paying a higher premium for a better quality ewe and a better quality lamb? Does the Minister envisage any changes in this regard?
I am not aware of any specific proposal for change in that regard. The Deputy will be aware that in recent times there are restrictions on the number of payments that can be made to individual flock owners. There has been a very significant increase in the number of sheep in the country generally. It was around five million way back in the mid-eighties but there has been a significant increase in that figure, so naturally the scheme will be considered in that light.
