Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The possibility of support to the sheep sector will be considered in the light of the outcome of the recent CAP health check. That outcome provides that an additional amount of some €24 million annually will be available to Irish farmers from 2010 onwards. That amount may be used to target specific sectors in need of assistance and represents money that would otherwise not be available to farmers due to the complex rules surrounding the single farm payment. Support may commence in 2009 by utilising funds from the national reserve, which are expected to be in the region of €6 million to €7 million, and those will be supplemented from 2010 with the unspent single farm payment funds.

As I indicated following the completion of the health check, I will consult relevant stakeholders as to how the additional funds can best be spent. To that end, I will meet with them on 16 December to consider their views and possible options. It is, perhaps, worth repeating what I said in this House last night when I reiterated my concern for the sheep sector in particular and acknowledged that it is a sector that needs support. It is a priority sector and will, no doubt, feature prominently at my meeting with the farm organisations on 16 December to consider how best to spend the additional funding secured in the health check.

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