Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if at a cross-compliance inspection of a sheep flock, there is an allowance for sheep to be sent to the factory after weaning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62121/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Cross compliance Ovine inspections include checks on the Ovine Flock Register (OFR) and verification of the completion and accuracy of the Annual Census. The OFR should contain a complete record of all events occurring to the sheep flock, it should be kept up to date by recording all movement events within seven days of the event occurring.

This register must be retained for three yearsafter the flock owner/keeper has ceased keeping sheep on the holding.

The record must include details of movements to the factory. In addition, all sheep keepers must carry out an annual Census which is an accurate inventory of their sheep. Both the OFR and the Census are checked at cross compliance inspections.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ewe numbers are under the quota required, if hogget replacements which are on the farm are allowed for the calculations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62122/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS) Terms and Conditions requires each applicant to maintain the requisite number of breeding ewes in line with their SWS reference number for that scheme year. In all cases, where an applicant is approved into the scheme on the basis of a particular reference number of breeding ewes, this number of ewes must be retained and made available for inspection where required for that scheme year. Replacement hoggets are allowed for the calculation of the reference number once they are 12 months of age or older.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in the case of a mountain sheep flock, there is an allowance for ewes that would have been left on the mountain as it is not practicable to get all the ewes down in a short period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62123/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Every reasonable effort is made to minimise any disruption associated with the inspection process. With regard to hill flocks, additional arrangements can be made with the flock holder to accommodate the normal management practices of hill flocks while ensuring that the inspections are carried out in a timely manner as required for payment purposes.

The Scheme Terms and Conditions require that where an applicant is approved into the Schemes on the basis of a particular reference number of breeding ewes, this number of ewes must be retained and made available for inspection where required for that Scheme year.