As Budget 2026 approaches, Ireland’s national sheep flock is at a critical juncture.
Ewe numbers have fallen by 200,000 in the last couple of years and throughput at factories has dropped a massive figure of 700,000 in the same period.
Last year the funding allocated to the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme received a similar boost as the Beef Welfare Scheme, with funds allocated increasing by €7m to reach €22m.
This delivered on a commitment by then-Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to bring the level of funding allocated to sheep farmers to €25/ewe.
The move resulted in a €5/ewe higher payment in the welfare scheme, bringing the total potential payment to €13/ewe, and the existing payment under the Sheep Improvement Scheme of €12/ewe.
The IFA’s sheep chair Adrian Gallagher has warned that support for the sector is essential, and called for more funding in Budget 2026 to bring payments to a minimum of €30/ewe, and €40/ewe for hill farmers.
Breeding ewe numbers fell in every county of Ireland last year.
“If we continue to lose numbers at the rate of the last two years, we will not have a competitive processing sector or be able to retain key blue chip customers for those who remain,” he said.
“The Minister and his Government colleagues must come forward with a long-term strategy for the sector, starting with firm funding commitments in the upcoming budget for targeted sheep supports for next year of a minimum of €30/ewe,” he concluded.
The scheme is a critical support mechanism for over 18,000 farmers but the €7m increase in funds allocated in 2025 is also said to be under threat, as pressure to fund the ever-increasing cost of TB grows.
Falling sheep numbers
The Department of Agriculture’s latest census data revealed that breeding ewe numbers fell in every county of Ireland last year.
Galway recorded the biggest numerical drop of almost 14,300 ewes, and that was on top of a 13,762 head fall in 2023.
Roscommon was also notable, with ewe numbers falling by 8% or almost 9,300 head.
Ewe flocks in Meath, Kildare and Offaly fell by over 8% last year, while Wexford, Monaghan, Kilkenny and Dublin fell by over 7% each.
Any deviation from current funding would be a blow to a sector struggling to stem the decline in numbers.
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