Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding the sheep welfare scheme (details supplied). [35909/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016, for a period of four years. The scheme reflected the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and was introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme

The current budget allocated to the scheme reflects the rate of payment of €10 per eligible ewe, which is based on the agreed costings underlying the actions to be undertaken in the scheme, and the number of eligible ewes held by participants in the scheme.

As part of Budget 2021, I secured an additional allocation of €17m for the extension of the Sheep Welfare scheme for a further year in 2021. This will allow for a roll-over of the Sheep Welfare Scheme in it’s current format and existing terms and conditions, including the payment rate of €10 per eligible ewe on completion of all selected actions.