Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. 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), which has now come to an end.

The first year of this 5-year scheme will run from the 1st February 2023 to the 31st of December 2023

Officials in my Department became aware of an issue affecting Hill Flock participants, who normally scan in January each year, that selected the scanning action for the scheme. Following consultation with the farm organisations my Department wrote to all affected participants in February 2023 affording them the opportunity to deselect scanning and select a different action for Year 1 of the scheme. From Year 2, affected applicants can revert to scanning as there will be a change to the scheme year for the SIS.

With effect from Year 2 (2024), the SIS scheme will run from the 1st of January to the 31st of December annually which should resolve the issue of hill sheep farmers wishing to opt for the scanning option.