Written answers
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Sheep Welfare Scheme Data
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers deemed ineligible for the sheep welfare scheme in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 due to the fact they did not lodge their sheep census in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28081/19]
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I introduced the Sheep Welfare Scheme in December 2016 in order to provide support for sheep farmers in improving welfare standards in the national sheep flock. Participating farmers are paid €10 per eligible ewe, and to date some €36m has issued to farmers under the Scheme in respect of the first 2 years of the Scheme.
Given that payments under the Scheme are based on animal numbers, participants are required each year to submit their Sheep Census to my Department. This requirement is set out in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The numbers of farmers in each year who submitted late Census forms are as follows:
2017 - 476
2018 - 381
2019 - 579
Participants in the scheme who do not submit their Sheep Census return by the due date are notified in writing by my Department and are provided with an opportunity to lodge an appeal outlining the circumstances relating to the late submission.
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