Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid under the beef data scheme 2013; the total value issued; the number of applicants awaiting payment; the total amount due; the number of applicants under the 2014 scheme; when they will be paid; the total moneys due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Payments of €9.18 million were made to 26,715 participants under the 2013 Beef Data Programme. My Department is currently validating the applications of remaining participants to establish the number that will be eligible for payment. When the validation process is completed, the number of eligible applicants and amount payable can be established.

There are currently approximately 38,000 applicants under the 2014 Beef Data Programme. Applicants cannot complete the submission of data under this Programme until the late-born animals concerned are five months of age. Therefore, my Department will not be in a position to validate all data under the 2014 Beef Data Programme until May 2015. It is not possible, therefore, to establish the number of applicants due payment and the amounts involved until that time.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid under the beef genomics scheme 2014; the total value issued; the number of applicants awaiting payment; the total amount due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6468/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Genomics Scheme was launched in 2014 using national funds. To date, my Department has paid €22,030,600 to some 31,000 participants under this Scheme. While the vast majority of applicants have received their payment under the Scheme, there are a small number of cases that had not met all of the requirements when payments were issued. My Department is currently in the process of validating these outstanding cases. However, it is not possible at this stage to quantity the exact level of outstanding payments until the validation process is completed.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions of the beef genomics scheme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6469/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 budget includes a package of approximately €74 million for the beef sector in 2015, including a provision of €52 million for a proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) which will place Ireland at the leading edge globally in the use of genomics in beef production. The proposed BDGP would deliver an accelerated improvement in the environmental sustainability of the beef herd via the application of genomics technology. This will help farmers to manage their enterprises sustainably, cognisant of Ireland’s climate change commitments, and will improve the quality of the national suckler herd. It will also cement our place amongst the more progressive beef producing nations in the world.

Subject to the approval of the Rural Development Programme by the EU Commission, farmers will be paid for work carried out in a range of areas related to data recording and animal breeding policies. The actions being considered for the Programme include recording a range of data related to performance criteria and animal events, taking tissue (DNA) samples from selected animals and sending for laboratory testing, completing an on-farm Carbon Navigator, and selecting high quality replacement bulls and heifers over the 6 years of the BDGP contract.

All Rural Development Plans submitted to the European Commission are subject to approval, following a detailed period of analysis and discussion. The Commission has provided observations on the BDGP and my Department has been engaged in intensive discussions to address issues raised and to provide the necessary clarifications. The scheme will be rolled out without delay following approval, with application forms issuing to all eligible farmers.