Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
787. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to continue providing support to the sheep welfare scheme into 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49894/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe existing Sheep Welfare Scheme, which was introduced in December 2016, initially as a four year scheme, will end on 31st January 2023 and the final balancing payments under this scheme will commence issuing to participants in the scheme in Q2 2023.
The Sheep Welfare Scheme will be replaced by the Sheep Improvement Scheme, which will be introduced under the new CAP. This new scheme will also be an animal welfare scheme aimed at sheep farmers with breeding ewes. It is intended to be a five year scheme and will aim to build on the welfare measures that were contained in the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
The scheme will be open to applications from existing sheep farmers and new entrants to sheep farming with breeding ewes. My Department is currently finalising the details of the scheme and these details will be published by my Department once this process is complete.
