Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that a wool scouring machine is available to wool producers in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware there is currently no facility of any significant scale scouring of wool in Ireland . The last scouring plant of significant scale closed in Dublin in the early 1980s due to environmental concerns.

An independent Wool Report was published in July last year.

One of its recommendations is that further studies be conducted to consider the viability of developing a long-term roadmap towards on-island scouring and processing capability. These studies would include additional research into modern methods of scouring which may be suited to an Irish wool context and within the constraints of the 2030 environmental targets.

It is envisaged these further studies will be conducted by the soon-to-be established Irish Wool Council which will be an independent industry led body with a mandate to promote develop and promote Irish wool in order to advance the opportunities for wool both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, of course, the establishment of any such facility will be a matter for commercial examinations and subject to normal commercial and environmental considerations.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the sharp drop in the profit made from sheep and lamb sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/23]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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423. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will put an emergency fund in place to support sheep farmers who have seen a collapse in income due to rising input prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 423 together.

I begin by expressing the Government's long-term commitment to the sheep sector which plays a critical role in balanced regional development and the overall success of our agri-food export industry.

In recognition of its importance, there are already various sector specific and other supports available to sheep farmers. Under the Sheep Welfare Scheme, advance payments worth €15.5m issued to 17,500 farmers in November 2022 for the final year of the scheme. Balancing payments will issue in the second quarter of 2023.

The new Sheep Improvement Scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) attracted 19,165 applicants by the closing date of 9 January 2023. As the core support for primary producers from this year onwards, this scheme aims to enhance gains made under the Sheep Welfare Scheme by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sector. To incentivise those improvements, the new scheme payment rate have increased by 20% to €12 per ewe.

Over its lifespan, the CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports to the rural economy and much needed certainty to farm families. Sheep farmers are also eligible to avail of supports provided by other schemes administered by my Department apart from the targeted Sheep improvement Scheme. These include, for example, the ACRES and Organics Schemes. Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, should strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.

To address the current market situation, I have asked the Chair of the Beef and Sheep Food Vision Group to convene a meeting of members focused on the sheep sector as soon as is practicable.

I understand that this meeting will take place later this week. Bord Bia and Teagasc, which are represented on this group, will make presentations on their ongoing activities and discuss with other stakeholders what more can be done to support the sheep sector in the present market conditions.