14 OCTOBER 2020
ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara has welcomed the Government commitment to undertake a feasibility study on wool which was announced by Minister Pippa Hackett as part of Budget 2021. “ICSA has been at the centre of a push to reverse the decline in the value of wool. We believe this €100,000 feasibility study on the wool market must focus on the potential for wool to contribute significantly to our green economy, and on delivering a return to sheep farmers for the supply of that wool,” he said.
“Work undertaken so far by ICSA has revealed there is massive scope to revitalise the entire wool industry here. There are a wealth of uses for wool which span across a whole range of sectors, and the priority now must be capturing that potential. It is time for wool to take its place as a valued and valuable natural resource.”
Mr McNamara also welcomed the clarity around the continuation of the Sheep Welfare Scheme but said the lack of an increase in the rate of payment was disappointing. “ICSA believes the scheme does need considerable new investment will continue to lobby for a €30/head sheep payment in the next round of CAP.”
ENDS
