Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the plans for the sheep sector in 2023. [61218/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I want to express both mine and the Government's commitment to the sheep sector. Our sheep farmers produce a world-class product and the sheep sector plays a critical role in the overall success of our €13.5bn agri-food export industry. 

The core targeted support for the sector under the CAP Strategic Plan from 2023 will be the Sheep Improvement Scheme, which aims to build on the progress made by the current Sheep Welfare Scheme by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.

Sheep farmers will receive a rate of €12 per breeding ewe under the Sheep Improvement Scheme. Sheep farmers are also eligible to apply for several other schemes under the CSP, including for example the ACRES scheme, and the Organics Scheme.

Another significant support for the sheep sector is the inclusion of the sector in the new support for early-stage Producer Organisations in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) which, in addition to providing administrative support of up to €33,000 to groups, provides under competition law for collective bargaining on output prices, thereby strengthening the position of primary producers in the supply chain. 

An independently compiled review of the Irish wool market, published in July 2022, contains a number of findings and recommendations including potential funding streams, market opportunities for wool and multiple areas for additional research and development.

One of the main recommendations is the establishment of an industry-led Wool Council which would develop and promote Irish wool domestically and internationally and bring together multiple stakeholders to foster collaboration, innovation and scaling activities in the wool sector. 

In support of this recommendation, I have committed to provide funding to the wool industry of €30,000 towards the initial set-up costs of setting up this independent industry led Wool Council.

As the Deputy will be aware, I established the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group in June of this year, to advance the actions for the beef and sheep sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy. 

The Chair of the group, Professor Thia Hennessy, has recently submitted a final report on the Group’s first priority, to produce a detailed plan to reduce emissions from the beef sector, and I am currently considering the recommendations made.

The Group will now move on to progressing the other important actions for the beef and sheep sectors set out in the Food Vision 2030 strategy.

As evidenced by the range of supports that I have outlined, I remain committed to supporting the sheep sector and in particular sheep farming families.