Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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314. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will convene an urgent meeting of the Sheep Vision Group to discuss the worsening crisis in the sheep sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6250/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I want to express 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 agri-food export industry.

As the Deputy will be aware, I established the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group in June of 2022, 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 submitted a final report on the Group’s first priority, which was to produce a detailed plan to reduce emissions from the beef sector.

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. I will shortly be convening a meeting the Group to analyse the current market situation.

In terms of supports for the sheep sector, the Sheep Welfare Scheme has been in existence for 6 years. Advance payments (85%) for the final year of the scheme commenced in November 2022, with €15.5 million issuing to 17,500 farmers. The balancing payments will issue in Quarter 2 of 2023.

The new Sheep Improvement Scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) opened for applications in November 2022 and closed on 9th January 2023, with 19,165 applicants. This is the core targeted support for the sector from this year and aims to build on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sector. The new scheme has an increased payment rate compared to the previous one, from €10 per ewe to €12 per ewe.

The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period and much needed certainty for farm families. Sheep farmers are of course also eligible for a number of other schemes as well as the targeted Sheep improvement Scheme, including for example the ACRES scheme, and the Organics Scheme.

Another significant support for the sheep sector which will be introduced later this year, is the inclusion of the sector in the new support for early-stage producer organisations 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 their position in the supply chain.

Sheep farmers play an enormous role in driving a balanced regional economy. It is for this reason that supporting this sector remains a key aim for my Department.