Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation is currently funded and through what budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33821/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) was established in 1997 as an industry led cooperative and is registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies. ICBF has been approved under EU legislation (Commission Decision 2006/427/EC) by my Department as the designated organisation to carry out performance recording, assessment of genetic value and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle in Ireland. The management of ICBF is the responsibility of its Board, which is broadly representative of all sectors of the Irish livestock industry.

ICBF receives some support from my Department to assist it to maintain a national database of cattle breeding information which is of vital importance for the future development of the national beef herd. ICBF is in receipt of an annual grant from my Department – which this year amounts to €694,000 - to support it in carrying out the functions in respect of which ICBF has been approved. It has also been allocated €1.00m in 2012 in grant aid towards projects approved under the National Development Plan.