Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the main proposals of the Development Strategy Group for the Sheep Industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30140/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Strategy Development Group issued its report in June 2006. The report made a number of recommendations for action to secure the future of the sheep industry in Ireland. There are a total of thirty-seven recommendations covering the areas of production, breeding, research, advice, processing, marketing and policy formulation. Following the issuing of the report, I set up an Implementation Group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Strategy Report. The Implementation Group completed its work in April of this year. 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 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.