Minister Heydon announces the opening of year four of the Sheep Improvement Scheme to new entrants
- Published on: 25 March 2026
- Last updated on: 25 March 2026
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced the opening of year four of the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) to new entrants. The five-year, €100 million SIS provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock.
Commenting on the opening of the scheme, Minister Heydon said:
“I am delighted to announce that applications for entry to year four of the Sheep Improvement Scheme are now open to qualifying new entrants. This is the fourth year of the SIS, which builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme in the previous CAP and indeed the last three years of the Sheep Improvement Scheme too. This scheme, which facilitates an annual opening for new entrants, demonstrates the continuing commitment of this Government to the sheep sector.”
When both the SIS and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme which has an allocation of €22 million in 2026 are combined, they collectively offer financial support of up to €25 per ewe for undertaking measures which will improve the welfare of the national flock.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 with a budget allocation of €20 million per year over the course of the CSP. Farmers get up to €12 per breeding ewe per annum for completing flock welfare measures.
Applications must be made on agfood.ie. The application opening date is Wednesday 25 March 2026. Application closing date is 23.59 pm on 29 April 2026.
Notes to Editors
About Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP at national level with a CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme has been introduced to enhance animal health and welfare in the sheep sector. The Scheme provides financial support to farmers of up to €12 per ewe for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock.
The Sheep Improvement Scheme is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU. For more information, visit http://www.gov.ie/cap