Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the benefits of a State run hill sheep research farm, acknowledging the benefits of such research to hill sheep farmers as well as the benefits of research into biodiversity and carbon storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51125/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s uplands areas support approximately 16,000 hill farming households, most of which participate in hill sheep production, with some also operating suckler cattle systems. It is recognised that upland farming faces socio-economic and environmental challenges, including lower farm incomes, coupled with biodiversity and climate impacts.
I am committed to working with stakeholders to improve the economic sustainability of upland farming, including hill sheep farmers. I recognise the requirement for more long-term research in upland areas. I appreciate that it encompasses not only sheep production research but also uplands cattle, vegetation, water quality, carbon and habitat research to run concurrently, so that the interaction between all these elements is fully understood.
In that regard, I am aware that Teagasc is exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated upland hill research farm to help address the economic, environmental and societal challenges facing farmers in these areas. I am supportive of Teagasc’s endeavours in this area and there has been engagement with my Department on the matter.
This initiative would complement Teagasc’s existing sheep research programme based in the Teagasc Athenry research centre. This programme plays a leading role in advancing research in the areas of grassland and grazing management, sheep breeding and reproduction, sheep welfare, and sheep production systems including hill sheep production.
In addition, the Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme is being implemented on collaborating farms, including hill sheep farms, in Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Wicklow. These farms demonstrate the benefits of the wider adoption of the latest grassland management, flock health, breeding and production methods by the Irish sheep industry.
For my part, I am committed to supporting sheep farmers with targeted supports to promote a resilient and sustainable sheep sector. In Budget 2026, I secured an allocation of €42m to the sheep sector to continue existing dedicated supports, including €20m for the multi-annual Sheep Improvement Scheme and €22m for the annual National Sheep Welfare Scheme.
In addition, there are many other multi-annual schemes available under the current CAP Strategic Plan, such as basic income payments as well as agri-environment and organic farming schemes, which are particularly significant for sheep farmer incomes.
