ICSA president Sean McNamara has welcomed the opening of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme but said the October date for completion of the necessary actions needs to be pushed back. “Setting a mid-October deadline is highly impractical for hill sheep farmers, as their livestock will still be out grazing on the mountains at that time. To fulfil the required actions, ewes would need to be brought down from the mountains, a task typically not undertaken until late October and into November,” he said.

“ICSA fought extremely hard to secure this additional €8 and we want as many sheep farmers as possible to benefit from it. Early in 2023 we were protesting outside the Dáil fighting for the very economic survival of sheep farmers up and down the country. We made it very clear that the €12 farmers were receiving under the Sheep Improvement Scheme was totally inadequate. Our efforts resulted in securing the additional €8, and it is imperative that sheep farmers can avail of it. However, this will not be possible if obstacles such as impractical and unworkable deadlines are used.

The current deadline of October 15 for the completion of actions does not align with the typical practices on hill sheep farms. A mid-November deadline would be more pragmatic, allowing farmers the necessary time to bring in their sheep and carry out the required actions, and we are calling on the Minister to make this adjustment.”

Under the National Sheep Welfare Scheme farmers will be paid per eligible breeding ewe, and payment for full scheme compliance will be €8 per ewe, (€4 per ewe per action completed). Farmers must complete two actions – one from the Category A actions of Shearing or Body Condition Scoring Ewes and one from the Category B actions of Clostridial Vaccination of Ewes or Plunge Dipping to control external parasite. The deadline for applications is May 2, 2024.

ENDS