Call for sheep farmers to be given €4m top-up to restore income level

Sheep farmers should be given a top-up payment of €4m to restore their prior income level, Oireachtas members have told the IFA.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has met with the body to explain his reasons for a proposal to subsume the former Sheep Grassland Payment into the Single Farm Payment.

The IFA wants any future sheep payments to be retained at their prior €18m value, rather than the €14m total under the revised plan.