“I am delighted to announce that advance payments totalling €14.36 million have started to issue to 15,465 farmers under the 2024 National Sheep Welfare Scheme. The introduction of this scheme earlier this year, further demonstrates the continuing commitment of this government to the sheep sector.

“The issuing of €14.36 million of payments under the 2024 National Sheep Welfare Scheme is crucial to the sheep sector and farm families up and down this country. I fully realise the importance of getting payments out to applicants as quickly as possible. This payment will mean 91% of all eligible applicants in the scheme will be paid in the coming days.”

“When combined with the €12 per ewe available under the CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), the NSWS payment means that sheep farmers this year will receive €20 per ewe. In Budget 2025, I have further increased this payment by a further €5 per ewe. This is a 150% increase in funding - from €10 to €25 - since I became Minister and is by far the largest payment ever made to sheep farmers.”

“My Department will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria, but I would urge applicants in the scheme who have received correspondence from my Department to respond as quickly as possible to ensure their payment can be processed”, Minister McConalogue concluded.