Sheep farmers are the second largest farming sector in our country and produce a world-class product. These farmers are a crucial component of our local economy and generate employment in rural communities across the country. However, low incomes in this sector are prohibiting new entrants, with many sheep producers grappling with increased production costs, while price falls and the supply carryover of stored lamb are real factors of concern. Over 19,000 farmers have applied for the sheep improvement scheme but the €12 per ewe is inadequate to protect the economic viability of the sector.

I am calling for the sheep improvement scheme to be enhanced with a direct, targeted support to ensure farmers applying have a better payment of €30 per ewe to ensure new entrants into the sheep farming sector can have the opportunity to build their flock and also to protect the existing farmers in this area.

I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. I will certainly engage with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of it. There have been an ongoing wide variety of supports under the Common Agricultural Policy more generally, but I will engage with him on the issue of targeted supports. Obviously, there are cyclical aspects to the industry and to different sectors within the industry. I will make the Minister aware of the issues the Deputy raised.