Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will open applications under the new sheep scheme; when he will issue the first payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The sheep sector is an important component of our agriculture economy and the third largest farming sector in Ireland with over 34,000 producers and an output value of over €230 million in 2015. It is for this reason that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide €25 million for a new scheme in support of the sheep sector.

My Department is consulting with farm organisations and stakeholders and once discussions are concluded, the scheme will be included in the upcoming amendment to the Rural Development Programme, which is due in late June. It would be my hope that, subject to agreement by the European Commission and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the scheme will be opened to applications in 2017.

I should also note that my Department is committed to developing the sheep sector through the FoodWise 2025 strategy. Sheep farmers are able to avail of supports in the form of GLAS, ANC and TAMS, as well as improving their efficiency and profitability through membership of the Knowledge Transfer scheme which builds upon the successful discussion group format.