IFA seek a €20 per ewe grant before election

THE IFA are hoping to secure a sheep deal with the Government before the General Election giving a targeted payment of €20 per ewe.

Galway IFA Sheep Committee Chairman Michael Murphy said that such a payment was a necessary measure to support and maintain the current sheep flock.

“Sheep is a very important farming enterprise in Galway but we need to underpin this enterprise with a realistic payment per ewe.

“We have undertaken some serious lobbying on this issue over recent weeks and months and feel that there is a chance of putting a package in place.

“But given the timing of the next General Election – likely to be held next month – it is critical that this deal be brought over the line before then,” said Michael Murphy.

IFA National Sheep Committee John Lynskey said that the ewe payment issue was a key priority in the IFA submission to political parties and Dáil candidates for the 2016 General Election.

He said that at a meeting with IFA last year on sheep, Minister Coveney accepted the need for increased supports and  committed to meeting IFA again early in 2016 to progress the case.

“Following strong lobbying at Budget time by the IFA, the Minister agreed to reinstate grant aid for sheep fencing in TAMS II and has given a clear commitment that this will be part of the RDP (Rural Development Programme) to be sent to Brussels and implemented early in 2016,” said Mr. Lynskey.

He said it was now being proposed that farmers with dual enterprises will receive a full KT (Knowledge Transfer) payment for one enterprise and a 50% KT payment for the second enterprise

“The sheep sector is very important, involving 34,000 farmers with an output value of €300 million and production of 58,000 tonnes of lamb.

“A study by UCD showed each €1 in support for the sheep sector underpins €2.70 of aggregate output in the economy,” said John Lynskey.