Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sheep Improvement Scheme complements some of the elements provided for in the Sheep Welfare Scheme, by providing increased support, while also building on other actions beneficial to sheep health and welfare, including the targeted application of genomic technologies in the sheep sector.

The Terms and Conditions of the Sheep Improvement scheme require participants to submit a Sheep Census within the set timelines. The closing date for return of the 2022 Sheep Census was 31st January 2023 for paper census forms while the deadline for online census submission was 14th February 2023. There was provision made for the late submission of Sheep Census returns to be accepted as valid for the Sheep Improvement Scheme for a 25 calendar day period after the 14th February 2023 subject to late penalties.

My Department’s records show that for the herd number provided they submitted their 2022 Sheep Census after the late application period on the 5th April 2023 and therefore was not eligible for payment under Year 1 of the Sheep Improvement Scheme. To be eligible for payment in future years of the scheme, they need to submit the annual sheep census on time and comply with all other commitments of the Sheep Improvement Scheme.