Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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574. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the approximate additional annual increase in funding needed for the sheep welfare scheme to attain compensation at amounts per ewe (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32183/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Sheep Welfare Scheme is part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme.  It should  be noted that the rate paid  per ewe is based on the cost incurred and income foregone by the farmer in carrying out the actions chosen under the scheme so that if the rate per ewe is to be increased then the actions will also have to increase. Any increase in the payment rate would require a formal amendment of Ireland's Rural Development Programme to change the costings and actions agreed under the Scheme.  This amendment would have to be approved by the EU Commission.