Sheep farmers welcome €25m welfare scheme

The IFA has described the €10 per ewe sheep welfare scheme unveiled by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed as “a major boost for sheep farmers”.

Mr Creed said the scheme will see sheep farmers gain a total of €25m in funding during 2017. Participating farmers will choose two actions from a menu of measure to protect the welfare of their flock.

Mr Creed said: “In designing the scheme, I was conscious that this scheme would have to take into account the different challenges faced by sheep farmers in lowland and in hill areas and I believe we have successfully struck this balance. The end result is a reflection of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, particularly farm organisations, carried out by my department in the last few months, plus intensive discussions with the European Commission.”