Almost €400K for local sheep farmers

Brendan Smith welcomes €398,355 in advance payments for 536 sheep farmers in Cavan and Monaghan

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has welcomed almost €400,000 in advance payments have been made to over 500 sheep farmers in Cavan and Monaghan under the Sheep Welfare Scheme.

In total, this figure represents 85% of the full annual payment with the balancing payments due for payment in the second quarter of 2023.

Deputy Brendan Smith welcomed the payments as "an important support to sheep farmers in the delivery of key welfare actions and provides a financial boost to the individual farmers and the wider rural economy".

These payments come under under year six of the scheme and sses €398,355 in advance payments divided between 536 sheep farmers counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Deputy Brendan Smith claimed the extension of the scheme over the previous two years and the change to the reference year reflects the commitment of Fianna Fáil in Government to the sheep sector both locally and nationally.

“This is the final year of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, which was introduced in December 2016," he added.

“Later this year, my colleague, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, will be launching the successor to this scheme, the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), which will also be aimed at sheep farmers with breeding ewes. The SIS will build on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.

“The introduction of this scheme will further demonstrate the continuing commitment of Fianna Fáil to the sheep sector for the coming years.”

In concluding, Deputy Smith urged any farmers with outstanding queries to respond to the Department of Agriculture immediately in order to facilitate payment.