Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of lambs that were imported from Northern Ireland in October 2016; the way this compares to the number of lambs imported in October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33909/16]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of lambs that were imported from the United Kingdom in October 2016; the way this compares to the number of lambs imported in October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33910/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

The intra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), which is the EU wide online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants. Movements are recorded at the level of Member State only on TRACES. Figures from TRACES show that in October of this year, 44,072 sheep of all ages were imported from the United Kingdom, compared to 39,424 in October 2015. The vast majority of these animals came from Northern Ireland, though no further geographic breakdown is available at this time. There are no category breakdowns available to specify for lambs, however the animals are categorised as breeding, fattening and or those for direct slaughter.

For October 2016 these figures are 129 for breeding, 4,963 for fattening and 38,980 for direct slaughter. In October 2015 the corresponding figures were 193 for breeding, 766 for fattening and 38,465 for slaughter.

This government is acutely aware of the importance of the sheep sector in Ireland and the vital contribution it makes to both the agri-food industry and rural life in Ireland. In recognition of this, the Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of some €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This scheme, in addition to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS, will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continuing viability and sustainability of the sheep sector in Ireland.