Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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440. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason specialist heifer feeders were excluded from the beef premium payments prior to the establishment of the three reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52993/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Regulations governing the Special Beef Premium Scheme, which was introduced in the mid 1980’s, defined the animals eligible under the Scheme i.e. bulls and bullocks. This scheme was designed to compensate farmers for a reduction in intervention prices. Since heifers were not eligible for intervention, they were not included in the Scheme. However, when the Slaughter Premium was introduced subsequently, heifers were entitled to benefit from this scheme. In addition, some funds from the Beef National Envelopes were directed towards heifers.

Generally, the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid payments in one or more of those years and by whom Single Payment entitlements were, therefore, established. Other farmers, including new entrants to farming since the reference period, are also eligible for the Single Payment Scheme where they have received entitlements from the National Reserve, or by way of a transfer i.e. purchase or lease.