‘Scrapping of Sheep Grassland Scheme to hurt incomes

The scrapping of the Sheep Grassland Scheme will see farmers progressively lose out on payments over the next five years, Fianna Fáil has claimed.

Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food Éamon Ó Cuív criticised Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for scrapping what he described as an essential scheme for farmers without investing in a long-term replacement programme

Deputy Ó Cuív said the decision to integrate funding that was specifically designed to support sheep farmers into the Single Farm Payment (SFP) over the next five years will lead to a dramatic loss in revenue for hundreds of farmers across the country.