Written answers
Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Departmental Schemes
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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912. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in receipt of the Sheep Improvement Scheme in 2023, and the number if receipt of the Sheep Welfare Scheme in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47936/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the terms and conditions of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, the rate of payment is set at €10 per eligible breeding ewe on completion by the participant of both of their selected scheme actions. Payment is made up to the applicable reference number of animals determined for payment for the scheme year.
Where an applicant does not complete the actions selected or does not maintain sufficient animals to meet the applicable reference number of animals, the terms and conditions of the scheme give details of penalties and reductions in payment to be applied.
Please see the information requested below by the Deputy as regards the number of participants in receipt of Sheep Welfare payments for Year five & six of the scheme, broken down by county.
Year six of the scheme operated from February 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023.
| County | Number of paid participants | Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 375 | 517,575.10 |
| Cavan | 363 | 297,314.50 |
| Clare | 189 | 84,882.10 |
| Cork | 876 | 865,377.00 |
| Donegal | 3221 | 2,269,161.50 |
| Dublin | 98 | 120,585.50 |
| Galway | 2132 | 1,892,920.10 |
| Kerry | 1577 | 1,926,844.50 |
| Kildare | 338 | 506,523.00 |
| Kilkenny | 271 | 316,508.00 |
| Laois | 197 | 200,481.00 |
| Leitrim | 598 | 574,911.50 |
| Limerick | 75 | 88,507.60 |
| Longford | 180 | 149,387.00 |
| Louth | 199 | 257,538.50 |
| Mayo | 2652 | 2,139,734.20 |
| Meath | 479 | 695,535.30 |
| Monaghan | 201 | 165,677.50 |
| Offaly | 268 | 288,483.50 |
| Roscommon | 877 | 792,160.40 |
| Sligo | 779 | 673,337.50 |
| Tipperary | 407 | 506,725.50 |
| Waterford | 225 | 369,508.10 |
| Westmeath | 351 | 355,242.50 |
| Wexford | 516 | 624,985.50 |
| Wicklow | 783 | 1,151,695.00 |
| Totals | 18227 | 17,831,601.90 |
Year five of the scheme operated from February 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022.
| County | Number of paid participants | Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 390 | 538,499.00 |
| Cavan | 372 | 307,462.50 |
| Clare | 178 | 82,544.50 |
| Cork | 890 | 890,899.50 |
| Donegal | 3223 | 2,367,017.60 |
| Dublin | 99 | 129,943.00 |
| Galway | 2179 | 1,953,592.00 |
| Kerry | 1579 | 1,981,882.00 |
| Kildare | 338 | 532,786.00 |
| Kilkenny | 274 | 339,295.50 |
| Laois | 211 | 216,981.00 |
| Leitrim | 606 | 589,689.30 |
| Limerick | 76 | 92,605.50 |
| Longford | 189 | 155,383.50 |
| Louth | 206 | 265,861.70 |
| Mayo | 2685 | 2,209,705.40 |
| Meath | 502 | 736,419.80 |
| Monaghan | 206 | 179,265.00 |
| Offaly | 271 | 310,443.00 |
| Roscommon | 895 | 842,753.30 |
| Sligo | 800 | 704,929.40 |
| Tipperary | 412 | 550,241.00 |
| Waterford | 227 | 387,273.50 |
| Westmeath | 370 | 371,862.50 |
| Wexford | 530 | 639,668.50 |
| Wicklow | 805 | 1,207,508.00 |
| 18513 | 18,584,512.00 |
The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).
As set out in the terms and conditions of the Sheep Improvement Scheme, the rate of payment is set at €12 per eligible breeding ewe on completion by the participant of both of their selected scheme actions. Payment is made up to the applicable reference number of animals determined for payment for the scheme year.
Year 1 of the Sheep Improvement Scheme runs from February 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The Sheep Improvement Scheme opened for applications in November 2022 with advance payment due to commence to all eligible applicants from mid-November.
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