Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who have now completed training courses for the suckler welfare training scheme; the number of farmers still awaiting training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45191/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds, more commonly referred to as the Suckler Welfare Scheme, was introduced in 2008. This Scheme is fully funded by the Irish Exchequer. The primary aim of the Scheme is to improve the quality of the national beef herd. A two-pronged approach is being taken to achieve these aims – firstly through improving the welfare of the animals and secondly through the development of an extensive database which will identify the best beef breeding stock in the country.

Approximately 49,500 applicants under the Suckler Welfare Scheme attended the initial training courses, which were held in late 2008 and early 2009. Given the requirement to complete the training course, my Department recently compiled a list of the applicants who did not meet this requirement, and wrote to them outlining the need to carry out the training course and advising that courses were scheduled from 8 to 12 November 2010 in specified venues throughout the country.

In this regard, my Department wrote to 5,300 applicants regarding the need to undertake the training course and I am confident that the vast majority of these farmers, who are still participating in the Scheme, completed the course. The exact details of the farmers, who attended the course, are currently being finalised. There were some exceptions where farmers have withdrawn from the Scheme, were ill and could not attend, or had some other reason for non-attendance. These applicants were advised to write to my Department outlining the reasons for their non-attendance and these cases are currently under review.