Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if additional funding will be provided in 2010 to assist the sheep sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36073/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he is taking to support the sheep industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36080/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 91 together.

The sheep sector is already a significant beneficiary from the main schemes operated by my Department, which include the single farm payment, the disadvantaged areas scheme and REPS. In recognition of the difficulties faced by this sector, I have also allocated €7 million from this year's single farm payment national reserve to hill sheep farmers, in the form of an uplands sheep payment. Moreover, Bord Bia will spend up to €1 million this year on the promotion of sheep and lamb at home and abroad and Teagasc has allocated almost €1.5 million for sheep research.

The Deputies will also be aware that under the final agreement on the CAP Health Check, Ireland will have access to additional funds of the order of €25 million annually from unspent CAP funds for three years from 2010 onwards. I decided to allocate €18 million of this funding annually, from 2010 to 2012 inclusive, to sheep farmers, in the form of a grassland scheme. In addition, under proposed amendments to the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013, which has been forwarded to the EU Commission, an indicative figure of €8 million has been allocated for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities to assist sheep farmers in reducing labour input. A decision from the EU Commission on the amended Programme, including this measure, is expected later this year.

Further steps to support the industry, centre on the recommendations of the Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group, which I believe provides a clear framework for progress. While the responsibility for implementing most of the group's recommendations fall on the industry itself, a number are within the remit of my Department and the state agencies under its aegis, who have made clear progress in implementing them.

'Sheep Ireland' has been established to take over the Department's current breed improvement programme and develop a new one. An interim Sheep Board, comprising representatives of farming organisations and breeders will oversee this process, with the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF) providing the technical and professional service required.

The results of a trial to examine the feasibility of mechanical carcase classification for lamb, which was conducted last year, are being examined. It is hoped that the system will allow for the accurate and objective mechanical classification of lamb carcases and will gain universal industry support. This would aid greatly in price transparency, which is a pre-requisite for efforts to improve quality and respond to the needs of the market.

The Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme was established in 2007. This Scheme is operated by Bord Bia and now has over 7000 participants.

Teagasc has developed a comprehensive plan to restructure its sheep support services, including a programme for Technology Evaluation and Transfer farms, which include hill and lowland areas. This approach will provide an opportunity to engage with sheep farmers on the use of the latest management practices and to identify research and development needs.

All of these actions - on the part of my Department, its state agencies and the industry - coupled with the considerable financial support for the sector, provide significant assistance to the sector, at a time when many sectors are struggling. I am confident that these can greatly benefit the sector.