Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are opening this up. The sheep welfare scheme for next year will be for €12 per ewe and it will be for all comers that apply. When profiling the CAP for the next five years, we make the best estimate we can concerning how it will work. This scheme will run based on €12 per ewe. Equally, the Deputy will know as well as I do the representations from sheep farmers seeking to increase this amount. There was no sheep scheme at all at the start of the last CAP. It evolved in the last three or four years. Starting off this new CAP, a scheme is in place which pays €12 per ewe. The objective is to ensure this scheme is open to all who apply. If this scheme then requires adjustments regarding budgeting as we go along, I will certainly work to do the best I can to ensure it is adjusted as necessary.