Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1769. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a farmer is not eligible for the new sheep improvement scheme in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).
The first year of this five-year scheme will run from 1st February 2023 to 31st December 2023. With effect from Year 2 of the scheme, the scheme year will run from 1st January to 31st December annually.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme opened for applications in November 2022 and closed on 9th January 2023. I am delighted with the uptake in the scheme, with over 19,000 sheep farmers applying to participate in the scheme.
Scheme participants must pick two actions from a menu of options, one for category A and one from category B. In addition, all participants will have to carry out a new action, the Genotyped Ram Action. Applicants must purchase and use a ram in the first three years of the scheme. Applicants with a reference number of over 150 eligible breeding ewes will have to do this action twice over the lifetime of the scheme. Applicants selected the year(s) they will carry out the Genotyped Ram Action when making their application.
The question raised relate to why rams purchased by a farmer within the last 12 months (i.e. in 2022) do not enable the farmer to be eligible for the new Sheep Improvement Scheme. The scheme requirement is that the four or five star rams must be purchased and used in the relevant scheme year selected by the farmer.
Rams purchased in 2022 will not satisfy the requirement, as the scheme year will not commence until 1st February 2023.
This scheme reflects the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and to ensuring key supports for farmers are developed and maintained under the new CAP.
