Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the balance of the €28 million that was earmarked for sheep farming announced in 2007 will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34682/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Funding of €28m was earmarked for a new supplementary measure in REPS on mixed grazing, which would yield both environmental and development benefits. The amount allocated was indicative and based on the likely take up, if farmers changed to REPS 4. However the majority of farmers in REPS 3 are seeing out their contracts and the take up in REPS 4 of qualifying farmers has been low.

At EU level, the proposals in the Aylward Report to assist the sector were considered at a conference in Limoges, on 4 and 5 September which I attended. At that conference I made known my concerns for the future of the sheep industry both in Ireland and in Europe and fully supported moves by the French Presidency to pursue possible solutions to help the sector.