IFA has moved a step closer in securing a €20 payment for sheep farmers following ‘a high level meeting‘ with European Commission officials in Brussels earlier this week.

IFA Sheep Chairman John Lynskey met with Rural Development officials on Monday.

Lynskey said he was encouraged by the flexible approach the representatives took to the targeted payment, which if pushed through will see sheep farmers receive a targeted payment of €20/ewe.

Following the meeting, the Galway-based farmer said that with a strong proposal from a Member State, there is real potential to do something positive and specific for the sheep sector from either Pillar I or Pillar II of the CAP.

He also said that the Commission were clear that the current CAP regulations could accommodate a specific targeted payment for sheep.

But, this would only be possible if there was a willingness at Member State level to develop such a payment.

As a result, Lynskey said that the next Government and Minister for Agriculture must focus on the sheep sector and address the need for a strong targeted sheep payment.

IFA undertook a strong campaign for €20/ewe and it is clear that the new Minister and Government will have to address this issue.

The IFA representative also said that the Commission gave strong assurances that the amendments to Ireland’s Rural Development Plan can be accommodated without further delay.

He suggested that this should clear the way for grant aid on sheep fencing to be made available to flock owners.

In October 2015, the Minister for Agriculture announced that sheep fencing will be eligible for grant aid under the TAM II scheme following the 2016 budget announcement.

It total, Budget 2016 seen an allocation of €35.8m towards TAMS II, which will also provide funding for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme which will be at the higher grant rate of 60%.