€1,890,512 in payments for 2,436 Mayo sheep farmers

SOME 2,436 Mayo sheep farmers are in line to receive a total of €1,890,512 under the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS), Minister of State Dara Calleary has confirmed.

He said that nationwide, payments under the scheme totalling €14.36 million have started to issue to 15,465 farmers.

Said Minister Calleary: “The issuing of €14.36 million of payments under the 2024 National Sheep Welfare Scheme is crucial to the sheep sector and farm families. Fianna Fáil in government fully realises the importance of the sheep sector and is committed to supporting it.

“In the recent budget, the payment of €8 per ewe under the NSWS increased by €5 to €13 per ewe.

“When combined with the €12 per ewe available under the CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), sheep farmers will receive €25 per ewe in 2025.

“This is a 150% increase in funding from €10 to €25 since Fianna Fáil entered government in 2020 and is by far the largest payment ever made to sheep farmers.”

He added: “Fianna Fáil in government are focused on listening to farmers, acting on their concerns and being absolutely committed to continuing to help them meet the varied significant challenges across the sector and the measures secured in Budget 2025 are reflective of this.”