Martin Kenny
Ceist:71. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers in receipt of Sheep Welfare Scheme payments will receive their next due payments. [41625/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 3 October 2017
Ceisteanna (71)
Freagraí scríofa
I am very aware of the importance of the sheep sector, and of the challenges which many farmers in that sector face. In view of this, in December 2016, I launched the Sheep Welfare Scheme. This new scheme was introduced by way of a formal amendment to our Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020, and aims to contribute to the continued development in animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.
All applicants in the scheme are required to choose two actions from a range of possible actions, with different actions available for lowland and hill flocks. For undertaking these actions, farmers will receive a payment of €10 per eligible ewe under the Scheme.
We are currently in the middle of Year 1 of the Scheme, and payments have thus not yet issued. I am, however, conscious of the importance to farmers of payments under schemes such as this, so I can confirm that advance payments under the Scheme will commence in late Autumn this year. I am also happy to confirm that the European Commission has agreed to my request that advance payments under such Rural Development Schemes can be set at 85% this year, rather than the standard 75% as set out in the relevant EU regulation. The balancing payment of 15% will then issue in 2018.
Question No. 72 withdrawn.