Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the inclusion of young farmers that are new entrants to farming in the animal welfare sheep scheme as the payments are based on average ewe numbers possessed in 2014 and 2015; and when, in the case of an entrant to farming in 2016, they will be included in such a scheme. [37722/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million. I have made provision for this in Budget 2017. The inclusion of this provision in the programme for Government reflects a commitment by the Government to ensuring the continued viability of the sheep sector in Ireland.

The sheep sector makes an important contribution to the agrifood economy generating an output value of €320 million and exporting in excess of €230 million in 2015. Furthermore the sector also makes a vital contribution to the economy supporting over 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas also.

My Department has engaged in extensive consultation with farm organisations to discuss the proposed new scheme in the context of the specific requirements of the Rural Development Programme.

As a result of these consultations my Department has proposed an animal welfare scheme for the sheep sector as part of its second amendment to Ireland's Rural Development Programme. This proposed amendment is currently with the European Commission for examination and my Department awaits the outcome. I intend to ensure that the scheme will be made available to as many sheep farmers as possible and that it will provide for participation by both hill and lowland flock owners.

In relation to the specific terms and conditions of the scheme, we have to wait for final approval from the Commission for the scheme before these can be finalised fully. I am sensitive to the needs of new entrants and subject to the commission approval, and it is my intention to facilitate the group of farmers referred to by you. In this context we propose to make provision in the terms and conditions of the scheme for those new entrants to farming in 2016 who would not have been in a position to have ewes in the reference year. Full details on this will be announced when the details of the scheme are finalised.