Ireland has launched its 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme, offering payments of up to €13 per ewe, with a €2 million budget.
Farmers must complete two mandatory Category A actions, worth €8 per ewe, from measures such as body condition scoring, parasite control or clostridial vaccination. An optional Category B action, including footbathing or plunge dipping, can bring a further €5 per ewe, although this may be reduced if the scheme is oversubscribed.
Payments are based on the average number of eligible breeding ewes declared in 2023-2025, with flexibility to claim up to 2025 levels. Actions must be completed by 3 October 2026, or 24 November for later applicants, with payments likely from January 2027.
Around 16,500 farmers have already received over €2.1m under the scheme. A key change for 2026 is that only registered biocidal products can be used for footbathing.
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