Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins has welcomed the progress being made on the new €25 million ewe sheep scheme.
Senator Hopkins stated that she had a meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed on Tuesday last and he advised her that he is planning to have the scheme open for applications in early 2017.
He stated that his “Department is working with the European Commission on agreeing an amendment to the Rural Development Plan to facilitate the rollout of the scheme.”
Senator Hopkins, who says the scheme could be worth over €1.2m in one year to Roscommon farmers, said it is being designed to keep the requirements simple for the farmer but also “to have a positive practical impact on the farm, which is very important.”
