Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
869. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for reducing the payment rate under the national sheep welfare scheme to €11.50 per ewe, despite the prior indication to farmers of a higher expected level of support; and the way in which his Department plans to address the financial shortfall now faced by sheep farmers as a result of this change. [63486/25]
View answerThe objective of the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme was to further enhance animal health and welfare on sheep farms. It follows on from the 2024 National Sheep Welfare Scheme which had a budget of €15 million and which to date has paid out €15.84 million to 17,225 participants.
In budget 2025, €22 million was allocated for the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme, an increase of €7 million or 47% relative to the 2024 scheme. Due to over-subscription of the scheme in 2025 with over 1.91 million ewes applied for, a rate adjustment had to be imposed as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. This means the Category B voluntary action is being paid at €3.50 per ewe and the overall payment level is €11.50 per ewe, 44% higher than the €8 per ewe paid under the 2024 Scheme
There are 5 actions in the Scheme and applicants are required to complete 2 actions from Category A which are mandatory actions and worth €8 per ewe (€4 per actions completed) and 1 action from Category B which are optional or voluntary actions worth €3.50 per ewe, therefore three (3) actions overall, if they wish to receive the full €11.50 payment. This is an increase of 44% on the amount that the applicant would have received under 2024 NSWS.
Payments under the scheme have already commenced with €16.44 million paid to 13,175 participants on 10 November 2025. A further payment run will take place in early December for those who selected the later completion date for actions under the scheme of 28 November 2025.
