Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

——is laudable, but without something tangible in these farmers' pockets they will not be there to reap the benefit of the turnaround when it comes in the long term. The farm income scheme had a targeted grant for facilities and fencing, which with one fell swoop the Minister has removed. That grant was of real practical benefit to sheep farmers many of whom were interested in the grant which is now gone. Will the Minister consider reintroducing it, specifically focused on the sheep sector? This is something concrete the Minister can do with a political will. Will she also consider for the sheep sector a similar scheme to the suckler cow scheme?

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