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10 Nov 2025
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10 Nov 2025
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A TOTAL of €194,782 has commenced issuing to farmers in Offaly, under the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme, a Fine Gael TD has said.
In total, €16.44 million in payments will be paid to 13,177 farmers around the country. This represents just over 90% of farmers who chose the completion date of 17 October 2025 for their chosen actions. A further payrun will occur in mid-December 2025 for those farmers who chose the later completion date of 28 November 2025 for their actions.
Deputy John Clendennen said: “These payments are crucial to the sheep sector and farm families in Offaly and I’m pleased that the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon fought for and secured a further €22 million for a similar scheme in 2026. As a result of the oversubscription in the scheme, it was necessary to adjust the payment rate to €11.50 per ewe which is still a 44% increase from the €8 per ewe paid under the scheme in 2024. This is a good outcome for farmers.
Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon said: “When combined with the €12 per ewe available under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) Sheep Improvement Scheme, this means sheep farmers in both schemes will receive up to €23.50 per ewe, an increase of 17.5% per ewe on last year’s combined payment.
“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.
Deputy Clendennen added: “All sheep farmers in Offaly should ensure they return their 2025 sheep census by 14 February 2026 at the latest, as it is a key eligibility requirement for payment annually under both the Sheep Improvement Scheme and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme”.
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