Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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935. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department is considering the reinstatement of compulsory sheep dipping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24079/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Currently, my Department has no plans to introduce mandatory dipping for sheep.

Farmers participating in the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) can opt to complete a voluntary plunge dipping action for the control of external parasites in their flocks. The payment rate for this option is €5 per breeding ewe and if undertaken in conjunction with two mandatory actions would mean that scheme participants can claim an aggregate amount of €13 per payable number of eligible animals.

The NSWS has a budget of €22 million and was launched on 31 March 2025 with the objective of promoting higher animal health and welfare standards on sheep farms. The closing date for receipt of applications is 15 May. Late applications will be accepted during the period until 9 June, subject to a payment deduction of one % per working day. Full details, including the terms and conditions, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/2025-national-sheep-welfare-scheme/

The NSWS payment rate will ensure that, when combined with the €12 per breeding ewe applicable under the CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme, participants in both schemes will be eligible to receive an overall payment of €25 per head in 2025. This sum equates to the highest payment ever received by sheep producers from dedicated sectoral supports.