Peter Burke
Ceist:58. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of financial support which has been received by sheep farmers in each of the past three years. [23620/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 30 May 2018
Ceisteanna (58)
Freagraí scríofa
I am very conscious of the important role that the sheep sector plays in relation to the continued growth and development of our agri-food sector. For example, some 57,000 tonnes of Irish sheep meat worth €274 million was exported last year, with diversification evident from our traditional primary markets of France and the UK.
With this in mind, I have ensured that my Department has put in place a range of supports for the sheep sector in recent years across a number of schemes. On CAP Pillar 1, sheep farmers continue to benefit from the direct income support available under the Basic Payment Scheme. In addition, Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020, also contains a number of support schemes which offer direct financial benefit to Irish sheep farmers. Sheep farmers continue to benefit from the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme and from GLAS in large numbers, as well as from capital investment support under TAMS. The RDP also includes specific provision for sheep farmers within the Knowledge Transfer Programme, which has helped to build on the existing knowledge base and skills set in the sector in a way which will help to ensure continued sustainable development in the sector.
In addition to these measures, in December 2016 I announced the new Sheep Welfare Scheme as an amendment to the RDP. Under this scheme, farmers are required to choose from a menu of actions which aim to improve the overall welfare of their flock. These actions must be completed over a 12 month period, and in return the farmer receives a payment of €10 per breeding ewe. This important new support was introduced for a period of four scheme years, and I am glad to say that over €18m has issued on time to sheep farmers in respect of Year 1 of the Scheme.
The total amount of financial support received by sheep farmers under the main schemes operated by my Department over the past three years is as follows:
2015: €519,565,397
2016: €601,649,660
2017: €617,512,369
I am committed to ensuring that my Department continues to work to underpin the development of the sheep sector.