Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Industry Strategy Development Group, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Malone, issued its report in June 2006. The report contained a total of 37 recommendations as to how the future of the sheep sector could be secured going forward. I established an Implementation Group, also under the chairmanship of Mr. Malone, in July 2006, to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. That Group reported to me in April this year.

The recommendations in the report relate to the development of the sector and refer to REPS in the context that sheep farmers are major beneficiaries of this scheme. The report does not set down conditions for applicants to REPS. I have however secured the European Commission's approval for a new supplementary measure in REPS 4 whose objective is to maintain and increase biodiversity on grassland by encouraging mixed grazing. REPS farmers with the appropriate mix of sheep and cattle can qualify for additional payments of up to €1,000 a year. The conditions are not onerous and I hope that sheep farmers will give serious consideration to the advantages that this new measure offers them.