Coveney insists sheep farmers will have their incomes protected
The minister said he chose the Initial Unit Value model to protect sheep farmers’ incomes, in particular those who farm on hill and commonage land. The scheme could only be retained in its present form if Ireland were to apply voluntary coupled support, which is not an option under Ireland’s payments model.
“I have decided to apply this provision in Ireland as a means of safeguarding the value of the payments received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme for those farmers concerned,” said Mr Coveney. The Grassland Sheep Scheme is the only Article 68 scheme that is being incorporated into the calculation of entitlements under the new Basic Payment Scheme.
