KILKENNY SHEEP FARMERS WILL BENEFIT FROM FIANNA FAIL’S PROPOSED PACKAGE OF SUPPORT MEASURES
Press Release
Fianna Fail candidate in Carlow-Kilkenny, Bobby Aylward, has welcomed the Minister for Agriculture’s announcement today (16 May, 2007) of her intention to introduce a full range of measures to secure the future of the sheep industry in Ireland, in line with the recommendations of the Sheep Industry Strategy Group.
“This is a very significant financial boost for sheep farmers in Kilkenny who are feeling the pressures of a depressed sheep industry. The measures proposed today will promote a more efficient, competitive and profitable industry for all those involved and will provide the necessary incentive to remain in the business”, Bobby Aylward said.
He continued “The funding for some of the proposals announced by Minister Mary Coughlan is in the Rural Development Programme which is with the European Commission at present for approval. The remainder of the funding will come from the Public Services Estimates for Government”
“There is a new supplementary measure aimed at sheep farmers who are already major beneficiaries under REPS. Currently, there are 22,000 sheep farmers in the scheme and this is expected to increase to 80% of sheep farmers”.
“A fresh proposal has now been submitted to the EU to introduce a new REPS supplementary measure on sheep to support the mixed grazing of sheep and cattle. This special measure is designed to encourage sheep farmers to stay in the sector and to prepare for continued strong competition from other meats. It is proposed that payment would be at the rate of E 50 per hectare on up to 20 hectares for farmers maintaining sheep numbers equivalent to a stocking density of at least three or four sheep per qualifying hectare”.
”Maximum payment of E 1,000 per year would be paid to a farmer who has at least 20 hectares of lowland and keeps a minimum of 70 sheep with three cows, increasing the average REPS payment to sheep farmers under REPS 4 to over 30%”.
“A special measure for sheep farmers has also been proposed under the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve which will benefit sheep farmers with commonage land and a relatively low stock”.
“A special category is introduced under the 2007 National Reserve for sheep farmers whose existing Single Payment is less than E 6,000, where at least 40% of their Single Payment was derived from direct payments associated with sheep production during the reference period and where individual entitlements are less than the District Electoral Division average”.
“Compensatory allowances are due to increase by 8% this year and it is estimated this will yield additional benefits under this heading in the region of E 40 m. for the sheep sector over those seven years”.
“Fianna Fail is also proposing new special funding for investments on sheep farms to include handling facilities, mobile units, and fencing”.
“Support is also proposed to increase the efficiency and competitiveness in the sheepmeat processing sector. The Department will provide special funding of up to E 1.2m. over the next three years to kick-start the establishment and operation of a Quality Assurance Scheme for lamb along the lines of support provided for beef at present”.
“Both Teagasc and An Bord Bia have developed plans which will involve increased resources and funding for research, advice, training and promotion in the sheep sector”.
“Fianna Fail has worked very hard to provide practical and fully-costed supports for sheep farmers which will secure and develop our sheep industry in the future. This is so important for protecting the livelihoods of farmers in particular and the rural economy in general”, Bobby Aylward concluded.
ENDS.
16 May, 2007