A major fraud investigation has been launched by the Department of Agriculture involving ewe premiums paid out in the west. Up to £100,000 may be involved. Irish sheep farmers are paid £30 per ewe by the EU and the State, and the fraud is understood to involve the presentation of ewes by a number of farmers who claimed they owned them.
The investigation involves mountain sheep farmers using common land, who have to be given several days' notice before a Department inspector calls to inspect the animals.
Over the years this system has been subject to abuse and, at one stage, sheep were trucked in from the North to make up the difference between the number of ewe premiums applied for and the number of ewes on the farm.
However, this so-called "Paisley ewe" fraud was eventually broken up by the Department, by increasing Border patrols and monitoring the condition of the sheep presented for inspection.
The present investigation involves a small number of farmers who had made claims of £100,000.
A Department spokesman said that a few hundred farmers in National Heritage Areas and Special Areas of Conservation are placing the headage and premium payments system for sheep in such areas in danger.
The EU is insisting that such farmers join either the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, or the national schemes in the NHAs and SACs so that the environment is protected. Otherwise, farmers in the areas face the loss of both headage and premiums under Article 169 of the Treaty of Rome.
The EU is adamant that farmers cannot continue to farm commonage and cause damage from overgrazing while drawing EU grants, and is insisting that conditions be put in place which comply with EU and Irish laws.
Talks are continuing between the farm organisations and the Department on a revised REPS scheme, and with the other departments running the NHA and SAC schemes.
The REPS involves farmers entering into a five-year contract to farm in an environmentally sensitive manner.