IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy has called on the Department of Agriculture to change the reference years of the Sheep Welfare Scheme for the CAP transition period.
He said, “The reference years do not reflect the current flock numbers of many sheep farmers within the scheme who have developed their enterprise since the reference period and need to be changed.”
The IFA Sheep Chairman also urged the Department to allow new entrants into the scheme. He said the Department of Agriculture originally allocated €25m a year to this scheme. However, only €17m has been earmarked for 2021, reflecting the current levels of participation.
Sean Dennehy said, “We need to do all we can to encourage generational renewal on sheep farms in Ireland, changing the reference years and allowing new entrants are important first steps to maximise participation in the scheme and ensuring all funding allocated to support the sector finds its way onto sheep farms”.
