A total of €15.1m in payments has been issued to some 18,600 farmers under the Sheep Welfare Scheme. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has confirmed that the 85% advance payment has issued on time for year two of the scheme.

Balancing payments in the €25m scheme are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2019.

There over 20,000 farmers involved in the scheme and the Minister urged any farmers with outstanding queries to respond to the Department immediately in order to facilitate payment.

Year three of the scheme will be opening in the coming weeks and there will be an opportunity for new entrants to the sheep sector to join.

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Sheep Welfare Scheme payments to start this month