Sheep scheme must be simple

THE new Sheep Support Scheme – to be part of next October’s Budget – needs to be simple and geared to help small and medium sized producers, according to Galway IFA Sheep Chairman, Michael Murphy.

He said that with the €25 million budget for the scheme roughly working out at €10 per ewe, there simply was no room for any additional administration or veterinary costs.

“The figure of €10 per ewe is a very modest one and there is no scope for any money to be taken out of that. This has to be a simple scheme with no strings attached,” said Michael Murphy.

He also said that given the limited budget for the scheme, it would have to be geared trowards assisting the small to medium sized flock holders with something like a 200 ewe limit on the payments.

“The vast majority of all sheep farmers across the country fall into the small to medium sized bracket with the average flock size well below the 100 mark.

“These are the type of farmers we want to support into the future and while we had looked for a payment of €20 per ewe, at least the €10 payment will be a help, if there aren’t any complications,” said Michael Murphy.

He said that lamb trade had recovered solidly after a bit of lull towards the end of April – the run-up to to the start of the Muslim Ramadan month (beginning on June 6 and ending on July 5) was also a help to the trade.

Another boost for lamb exports to France will be the European Soccer Championships where demand for lamb products is expected to soar for its duration in June/July.

IFA National Sheep Committee Chairman John Lynskey said that following a meeting with the Dept. of Agriculture last week, they had stressed the necessity of keeping the new scheme simple and effective.

“The payment, which should amount to approximately €10 per ewe, must be available to all sheep farmers with breeding ewes and involve minimal expense, costs or bureaucracy on farmers,” said John Lynskey.

He said that in the Rural Development Programme, schemes have to meet various criteria under the regulations and one of the options being looked at was welfare, where a payment could be made on a per animal basis.

“We are favour of targeting the payment on a per ewe basis. It is essential that the new sheep payment is simple, effective, with minimal costs on farmers and has a positive impact for the sheep sector,” said John Lynskey. The Sheep Support Scheme won’t begin until 2017.