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.

The Implementation Group reported in April. Most of the recommendations in the report fall to be implemented by the industry itself and it is too early at this stage to assess their impact. The recommendations do not set out specific payments for sheep farmers but are supported by my Department through assistance for breeding and management, processing facilities, mechanical grading, quality assurance and health and welfare.

In addition and in line with the Group's report, sheep farmers are major beneficiaries of various schemes being operated by my Department. Under REPS 4, a new supplementary measure aimed at sheep farmers has been introduced. A budget of €28m a year has been allocated to fund the proposed new supplementary measure at an overall cost of over €170m for the period to 2013. Assistance is also available to sheep farmers for on-farm investments under the new Rural Development Programme. These schemes have only recently been launched and payments have not yet been made.