National Sheep Welfare Scheme worth €22m now open
The approved budget for the National Sheep Welfare Scheme is €22m
The 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) is now open for applications.
The 2026 NSWS, which has an approved budget of €22m, is a continuation and expansion of a similar scheme that operated in 2025.
The core structure consists of five possible actions grouped under mandatory and voluntary categories, and is unchanged except that participants will be able to vaccinate against either clostridial diseases or bluetongue virus if they select the ‘vaccination of ewes’ as one of the three mandatory measures.
As before, participants in the 2026 NSWS will be required to complete three actions to receive the full payment of up to €13 per ewe.
Minster Heydon highlighted the ongoing support provided by his department to maintain producer confidence in the future viability of sheep farming.
The minister said: “The scheme launched today is separate from, but complements, the multi-annual Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan until 2027.
"To date, approximately 16,700 farmers have received payments totalling €18.2 million for participating in the third year of the SIS, with the balancing payment for the 2025 SIS due to be issued in early May 2026. Under the 2025 NSWS, just over €21.2 million has been paid to almost 16,800 participants to date.”
Continuing, he said: “Today’s scheme consists of straightforward measures that apply to all types of sheep enterprises. They are practical to implement on all sheep enterprises, including those not currently participating in the existing SIS.
Good flock biosecurity is important for the overall improvement in health, welfare and productivity of animals, and will reduce the incidence of disease on farms. For this reason, I announced last week that bluetongue vaccination has been included as an eligible action in the 2026 NSWS.”
As the NSWS and SIS are separate schemes, they must be applied for separately. Applications for the 2026 NSWS must be submitted before midnight on May 15, 2026 and can be made by a farmer or an approved FAS advisor acting on their behalf, via the agfood portal.
The full terms and conditions of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) and other relevant scheme information are available on the department website.
