€1.8 m. advance payments under Sheep Welfare Scheme in Mayo

THE commencement of advance payments under year six of the Sheep Welfare Scheme has been welcomed.

A total of €1,877,429 has commenced issuing to some 2,592 farmers participating in the scheme in Mayo, Deputy Michael Ring has confirmed.

Welcoming the payments, he explained: “These advance payments, at a rate of 85% of the full annual payment, are an important support to sheep farmers in the delivery of key welfare actions and provides a financial boost to the individual farmers and the wider rural economy.

“The balancing payments for the scheme will issue in the second quarter of 2023.”

Deputy Ring continued: “This is the final year of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, which was introduced in December 2016. Later this year, a successor to the scheme will be launched, the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), which will also be aimed at sheep farmers with breeding ewes.

“The SIS will build on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector.”

Deputy Ring urged urged any farmers with outstanding queries to respond to the department immediately in order to facilitate payment.

Also welcoming the payments, his Fine Gael colleague Deputy Alan Dillon said Mayo had one of the highest figures of payments to farmers in Connaught counties and was the second highest nationally after Donegal where 3,153 farmers will be paid just over €2m.