Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when actions for the national sheep welfare scheme will be published; when the scheme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13628/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2025 allocated a sum of €22 million for the continuation and expansion of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS). The increased funding will provide for an additional €5 breeding ewe payment bringing the total scheme payment rate for participants to €13 per ewe this year.

The increased payment rate will ensure that, when combined with the €12 per ewe available to sheep farmers under the CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme, participants in both schemes will be eligible to receive an aggregate payment of €25 per ewe in 2025. This will be by far the largest payment ever received by sheep farmers from dedicated sectoral supports.

As the objective of the 2025 NSWS is to further enhance animal health and welfare on sheep farms, it will contain similar measures to those in the 2024 scheme with participants required to complete an additional voluntary action worth €5 to drawdown the maximum payment per eligible ewe.

My Department consulted with stakeholders on the design and implementation of the 2025 NSWS as part of general discussions on supports for the drystock sector that will be operational in 2025. That process also entailed consideration of relevant EU rules on state aid for agriculture and seeking sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Preparations are now well advanced and further details on the scheme actions and application window will be announced shortly once all necessary approval and administration arrangements have been finalised.