Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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340. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the entitlements of the new suckler cow scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34025/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, and will involve a budget of some €300m over a six year period. It is intended to improve the quality of the national suckler herd and deliver an accelerated improvement in the environmental sustainability of the beef herd through the application of genomics technology. In recent weeks, the ICBF has issued every scheme applicant with detailed reports of the current status of animals in their herds. Participants will receive similar information related to the scheme and their individual herd on an ongoing basis. This is in addition to a training programme which will be rolled out over the next 12 months. I have also announced a series of information meetings for participating farmers which will commence next week.

An official from m y Department has been in direct contact with the person named and had an in depth discussion regarding th e specific requirements of the programme and addressed any queries that the participant raised.