Advance payments for the Sheep Welfare Scheme, worth almost €16 million are set to begin today, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced.

The new €10 per ewe sheep welfare scheme has been heralded as a unique opportunity for sheep farmers, but it looks like only about two out of three will participate.

The Sheep Welfare Scheme is a new scheme targeted at making a meaningful positive contribution to sheep welfare with particular regard to Irish production systems.