IFA Says Strong Farmer Interest in €8m Grant Aid Programme for Sheep Farmers

IFA National Sheep Committee Chairman James Murphy said that over 800 farmers had applied for grant aid package for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities. He said the average grant aid application is in the order of €2,400 and there is €1.148m available in Aid under the first tranche of applications.

James Murphy said now that farmers have submitted the applications, the Department of Agriculture need to process and approve applicants quickly. He set down a deadline date of the end of March for the Department to revert to applicants confirming if they had been approved for grant aid. He said sheep farmers would want to commence work under this plan in April.

The IFA National sheep Committee Chairman confirmed that the second tranche of the Grant Aid Programme has already opened and sheep farmers can make applications straightaway. He said this will run for a 3 month period during February, March and April. There is €571,000 Grant Aid available under the second tranche.

James Murphy said that a number of private consultants are completing the Grant Aid application for their sheep farming clients as part of their overall package, which could include Single Farm Payment application and REPS or AEOS.