Sheep Farmers Disappointed at Lack of Increase in Budget

IFA National Sheep Committee Chairman Sean Dennehy acknowledged the roll-over of funding for existing schemes, but said sheep farmers are disappointed the Budget did not provide an increase to the Sheep Welfare Scheme.

He said sheep farming is a low-income sector carried out in some of the most difficult areas of the country and is in vital need of meaningful supports.

Sean Dennehy said commitments given by Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin at the IFA AGM earlier this year of a €5 increase in payments has not been provided in the Budget.

“The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue must support the sector directly and through amendments to existing schemes to ensure generational renewal within the sector,” he said.

To achieve the long-term sustainability of the sector, which plays a critical role in the rural economy in particular but also in the broader agri sector, Sean Dennehy said the sector must be economically viable.

Meaningful levels of direct supports are necessary to provide this and the IFA campaign for €30 ewe continues.