Written answers

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Sheep Sector

10:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will remove the obstacles holding back payment of the €34 million sheep package committed by the Government to the sector in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25548/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The series of measures announced by my predecessor last year in support of the sheep sector constitute the response to the report of the Sheep Strategy Development Group — the Malone Report. Together, these measures form a comprehensive package that recognises the importance of the sheep sector and that addresses the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Good progress is being made in implementing the various measures. These include the following initiatives.

REPS

My Department secured European Commission approval for a new supplementary measure in REPS 4 promoting mixed grazing of cattle and sheep. Under this supplementary measure a farmer can qualify for an annual payment of up to €1,000 in addition to his or her basic REPS payment.

National Reserve

Payments of an additional €6m to qualifying sheep farmers were issued under the 2007 National Reserve.

Breed Improvement Programme

Progress is being made by my Department in discussions with ICBF, Teagasc, Breed Societies and Farm bodies on the proposal for ICBF to take over the management of a Sheep Breed Improvement Programme for the sheep sector. It is hoped to have an interim structure in place for the 2008-2009 breeding year.

Mechanical Grading

Trials have been carried out on the use of new technology to allow for the mechanical grading of carcasses in the sheepmeat sector and the results are being assessed.

Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme

The lamb quality assurance scheme, which was established in 2007, has seen some 6,000 farms being registered to date.

Bord Bia

Bord Bia is continuing to organise strategic marketing campaigns in selected European markets. Along with its French and British counterparts Bord Bia is undertaking a 3-year generic lamb promotion on the very important French market to promote lamb to younger consumers.

Teagasc

Teagasc have developed a comprehensive plan to restructure their sheep support services, including a programme for Technology Evaluation and Transfer farms, which includes hill and lowland areas.

These measures complement those to be taken by the industry itself in implementation of the Malone Report. I am confident that these form the right approach and will help to address potential difficulties. I am very conscious of the concerns within the sector and my predecessor raised these at the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting on 17 March. While definitive conclusions on possible support action were not reached, our concerns were shared by a large number of colleagues and it was generally recognised that the needs of the sector should be borne in mind in the CAP "health check" considerations.

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