Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2010 of 24 July 2018, the latest costings for the figures previously provided for this scheme based on the most recent participation figures at hand. [43483/19]

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 the income forgone 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 would have to be amended.  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.  Any such amendment would have to be approved by the EU Commission.

Based on the number of eligible ewes that have received payment in the 2018 scheme year to date, taking account of criteria set down under the programme, please see the following breakdown of expenditure for each category of increase.