Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

Mr. Dowling referred to €180 million in additional supports for beef farmers between September 2019 and July 2021.

In November 2019, approximately 16,000 farmers received payments totalling €15 million under the beef environmental efficiency pilot, BEEP, scheme. In December 2019, payments were made to 32,500 farmers to the value of some €78 million under the beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, which related to market disturbances and was co-financed by the EU. In November 2020, 27,200 farmers received payments totalling €46.6 million under the beef finisher payment, which was an exceptional payment funded from the Exchequer in respect of market disturbances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.