Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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1446. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will act on the call by an organisation (details supplied) for a top-up payment on the sheep welfare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22073/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The details of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, including the payment rates for participants, were approved by the European Commission in 2016. The payment rates are based on the agreed costings underlying the actions to be undertaken in the scheme, and an increase in payments would thus require changes to the actions currently being undertaken by farmers. Any such changes to the details of the scheme would require the agreement of the European Commission via the formal Rural Development Programme amendment process.

While there is no doubt that the overall environment facing sheep farmers this year is challenging, it should be noted that sheep prices and slaughter volumes for 2020 are ahead of 2019 levels.