Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the second payment of the sheep welfare scheme will be made available to recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13964/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In line with the relevant EU Regulations, the advance payment under the Sheep Welfare Scheme commenced in November 2017.  The advance payment rate was increased to 85% following discussion with the EU Commission, and total payments of some €16m have issued.

The issue of the 15% balancing payments to all eligible participants in the Sheep Welfare Scheme is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2018.