Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2017
38. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sheep imported from Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively for 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4841/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe intra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), which is the EU-wide online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants. Movements are recorded at the level of Member State only on TRACES.
Figures from TRACES show that over the course of 2016, a total of 432,316 sheep were imported from the UK. This compares to a total of 169 from all other territories from which Ireland imported sheep last year, namely Belgium, France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.
As of 30 January this year, a total of 40,920 sheep have been imported to the Republic from the United Kingdom. This represents a drop of approximately 14% when compared to January of 2016.
While I have stated already that TRACES does not allow for the breakdown of movements within Member State level, figures from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland show that a total of 394,439 sheep were exported into Ireland direct for slaughter in 2016 and 50,204 sheep were exported to farms in Ireland in 2016. There are no comparable figures available in relation to 2017 yet.
There are no similar figures available for imports from Scotland, however it is clear that the vast majority of the total imports of sheep from the UK originate from Northern Ireland.
I am very much conscious of the range of factors which impact on the livelihood of sheep farmers. The Programme for a Partnership Government made a commitment to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of some €25 million to be made available in Budget 2017. This Sheep Welfare Scheme, which was launched successfully by my Department last December, was followed up with a series of strongly attended public meetings held by officials from my Department on the scheme in the last number of weeks. I am glad to report that applications are currently being received by my Department in high numbers on a daily basis.
The scheme provides a support of €10 per ewe to farmers for undertaking actions which make positive contributions to the welfare of flocks. Regarding the design of the scheme, I was conscious that the differing challenges faced by sheep farmers in lowland and hill areas would need to be taken into account and I believe we have successfully struck this balance. The end product reflects the extensive consultations which were carried out by my Department with a range of sectoral stakeholders, particularly farm organisations last year, in addition to intensive discussions with the European Commission.
The scheme represents a clear acknowledgement of the contribution which the sheepmeat sector makes to the Irish Agri-Food sector, which in 2016 saw an increase in exports of sheepmeat of 3% in volume and 4% in value terms to approximately €240 million. In addition, the sector supports some 35,000 farm families directly, as well as providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas. This new Sheep Welfare Scheme, in addition to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, TAMS and ANC schemes, will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continuing viability, prosperity and sustainability of the sheep sector in Ireland.
