Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 June 2024
63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken in relation to the 1,433 farmers who have signed up to the sheep improvement scheme and are yet to receive an advanced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25716/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector, and builds on the progress made by the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS).
The introduction of the Sheep Improvement Scheme in 2023 combined with the rollout of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme in 2024 demonstrates my commitment to supporting sheep farmers. Between the support I have provided under the SIS and National Sheep Welfare Scheme, €20 per ewe is available to sheep farmers in 2024, the highest payment ever made to this important sector.
I was pleased to see a further 286 new entrants join the SIS earlier this year bringing total participation in the scheme now to 18,940.
My Department issued the first advance payments at a rate of 85% under the Sheep Improvement Scheme in November 2023. Two additional advance payment runs issued, the last of which was processed in April 2024. Total advance payments issued under the Sheep Improvement Scheme for Year 1 was €19.16 million.
The balancing payment which is paid to eligible applicants commenced on 31st May 2024 with payments valued at €2.17 million issuing.
Therefore a total of 17,020 applicants have received a payment in the first year of the Sheep Improvement Scheme valued at €21.33 million.
Of the 1,433 participants who did not receive an advance payment, some 49 of these applicants were picked up in the Balancing payment run and paid in full what they were due.
The remaining participants will receive their payment as and when their cases become cleared; however some of these will not be eligible for payment for a variety of reasons including for example no sheep census submitted in 2023 and/or no BISS submitted in 2023. Both of these elements are eligibility requirements in the scheme and thus failure of one or both of them results in no payment for the year in question.
My officials are continuing to process these files including appeals and communicating directly with participants.
