Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that hill farmers are suffering as a result of falling lamb prices, his plans to support them during this present financial crisis; if he will engage in discussions with the factories to resolve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39375/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is ultimately the market which determines the return available to any farm enterprise and my Department has no function in this regard. Sheep farmers in hill areas benefit from the general schemes of SPS (1.2B) and DAS (190M). As well as this my Department provides considerable specific support for the sheep sector in Ireland. Key supports for this sector include:

- €7 million from the 2009 Single Farm Payment National Reserve under the Uplands Sheep Payment Scheme and

- €68 million for the three year grassland sheep scheme which commenced in 2010 and which was due to expire at the end of 2012, butwhich I extended for an additional year in 2013 and for which €14 million has been made available.

- €3 million provided in 2013 for a Sheep Technology Adoption Programme, with a maximum payment of €1,000 per participant

- €3 million for a continuation of the sheep fencing scheme in 2013.

Teagasc have collaborated with Bord Bia on research to identify new possible outlets for light lamb. However, under-finished lamb has the disadvantages of having poor conformation, fat cover and meat yield and there are very few market outlets for this product.

Nevertheless, there are other initiatives to develop market outlets for the sector. My Department in collaboration with Bord Bia will spend over €1.1 million this year on the promotion of sheep and lamb at home and abroad. In addition Teagasc has allocated almost €1.5 million for sheep research for 2013.