The leaders of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have committed to increase the Sheep Welfare Scheme from €10 to €15/ewe as part of discussions with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) this week, the organisation has said.

Speaking on the matter, IFA National Sheep Committee chairman Sean Dennehy said that the association has “progressed its sheep policy proposals very positively” with the leaders – Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, and Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin – at the IFA annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

“This is solid progress and we want to build on it to get to direct supports of €30/ewe,” he said.

This would include a roll-over and increase in the Sheep Welfare Scheme to €15/ewe and CAP Pillar II funding.

Continuing, Dennehy said sheep farming is the second-largest farming enterprise in terms of farmer numbers, with 34,000 flock owners, adding that it is particularly important in mountain and hill areas.

With pressure on lamb prices and direct payments, sheep farm incomes are very low at an average of €13,397 for 2018.

In addition, the IFA stressed that the EU must fully protect the European sheepmeat sector by ensuring that there is no additional market access for New Zealand and Australia, in any new trade negotiations.

Dennehy said the IFA National Sheep Committee is undertaking an intensive lobby of all political candidates in every constituency before the General Election on Saturday, February 8.

“No politician will be left in any doubt as to the supports the sheep sector needs from the next Government,” he concluded.