Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has welcomed the announcement that a three year €54 million Grassland Sheep Scheme has been established from the unused Single Payment Funds.

The Scheme will be beneficial for both hill and lowland sheep farmers and will focus on flocks with breeding ewes.

It will act as an incentive for farmers to maintain their production levels, helping to secure the future of the sheep industry.

Welcoming the establishment of the Scheme, which will be funded by EU CAP funds, Pat the Cope MEP said: “This Scheme will be enormously beneficial to sheep farmers in Donegal and I want to commend Minister Brendan Smith for providing this much needed support to this sector of the farming community.”

“It follows the allocation of some €7 million under the Single Payment National Reserve to 13,000 hill sheep farmers under an Upland Sheep Payment Scheme.”

“Sheep farmers will also benefit from a further €8 million under the Rural Development Programme.”

“The sheep industry is worth around €250 million to the Irish economy so it is only right that it is given this vital support from the Government and from the European Union,” concluded Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP.