Sheep chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association John Brooks has criticised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for failing to include sheep fencing in the next tranche of TAMS II, which opened for applications on March 26th.
Of the decision, Mr Brooks said “ICSA has continuously highlighted the need for sheep fencing to be incorporated into TAMS II. This was accepted by Minister Coveney and sheep fencing was to be included in tranche 2 however the necessary approvals have not been achieved in time. ICSA would like to know how this has been allowed to happen.”
Continuing Mr Brooks said “Sheep farmers have been neglected under Pillar II as there is no specific sheep scheme under the current Rural Development Programme. ICSA has long since been calling for such a scheme to be introduced and the time for excuses is over. Sheep farmers missing out again in TAMS only adds to their disappointment at being continuously overlooked.”