Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
871. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm whether there will be a review of the 2025 and 2026 scheme allocations to restore the payment level originally understood by farmers; and to ensure that farmers are not penalised for participating in good faith in a scheme whose terms were subsequently diminished. [63488/25]
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. The increased funding of €7 million or 47% relative to the 2024 scheme provided for up to an additional €5 per breeding ewe bringing the potential scheme payment rate for participants to €13 per ewe. However, due to over-subscription of the scheme in 2025 with over 1.91 million ewes applied for, a rate reduction 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 rather than €5 per ewe. The overall payment level of €11.50 per ewe is still 44% higher than the €8 per ewe paid under the 2024 Scheme
In budget 2026, I secured an allocation of €22 million for a National Sheep Welfare Scheme and my Department met with the farming organisations on 30 October 2025 regarding the 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
