Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2025
453. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sheep farmers in the State; the number of organic sheep farmers; the supports that will be available to organic and non-organic sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67431/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2026, I secured an allocation of €131m for the livestock sector, which will ensure the continuation of existing dedicated supports, including those worth €42m to the sheep sector in 2026.
Those supports consist of €20m for the multi-annual CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) and €22m for the annual National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS).
The 2025 NSWS budget was an increase of €7m, or 47%, on the preceding year of 2024. Payments amounting to €16.44m have already issued to more than 13,000 farmers in respect of their participation in the 2025 scheme.
The SIS operates under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, and provides financial support to farmers undertaking measures exceeding mandatory standards to improve flock welfare. Advance payments amounting to €16.91m recently issued to over 15,500 beneficiaries in respect of their participation in year three of the scheme.
In addition, there are many other multi-annual schemes available under the current CSP, which is worth €9.8 billion to farmers and rural communities between 2023 and 2027. These include basic income payments as well as agri-environment, investment and organic farming schemes, which are particularly significant for sheep farmer incomes. There are 2,906 organic sheep farmers in Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
Organic farmers are also supported by the Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS) which is part of the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). This scheme facilitates the development of the organic sector to ensure a regular supply of high-quality organic produce to the market. It also incentivises organic farmers currently participating in the OFS to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment. OFS participants are paid a higher rate of 60% up to a maximum of €90,000 per holding.
According to the latest census report published by my department, a total of 3.6 million sheep were kept across 33,805 registered flocks in the country at the end of December 2024.
The array of supports provided to sheep farmers demonstrates my commitment to promoting a viable, resilient and sustainable sheep sector.
