The Minister for Agriculture Mr Walsh, has announced the payment to sheep producers of the final instalments of the 2000 ewe premium and rural world premium, amounting to almost £25 million.
The payment is worth £5.37 per eligible ewe for the ewe premium and £0.52 for the rural world premium.
These final payments will bring the total value of the ewe and rural world premium in 2000 to approximately £78 million.
Mr Walsh said that the market for sheep remains buoyant with average prices to date this year 28 per cent above 2000 levels.