Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in rolling out the beef data and genomics scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34219/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The closing date for applications to the Beef Data & Genomics Programme (BDGP) was the 5th June 2015, and my Department received almost 30,000 valid applications for the scheme. The BDGP is an essential component in reversing the widely acknowledged decline in the maternal index of the Irish suckler herd. The BDGP will also 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. Participants in the programme will receive a payment of €142.50 for each of the first eligible 6.66 hectares and €120 for each of the remaining hectares up to the maximum payable area. The maximum payable area is based on the number of calved suckler cows in each herd in 2014. The payment rates provide for a higher payment linked to the first 10 animals on each herd as I felt it was important to favour smaller herds through this programme. The payment rate of €142.50 is the maximum amount which could be provided based on the cost incurred and income foregone associated with the actions under the BDGP, as negotiated with the European Commission.

The focus has now turned to implementation of the scheme which is now well underway and my Department and the ICBF are working closely with scheme participants on the various requirements. This is progressing well with over 255,000 tissue tags sent to scheme applicants to date. This leaves only 70,000 more to be sent out and the ICBF expect that these will be in the post within the next two weeks. Over 70,000 samples have been sent back for genomic testing, which covers over 7,000 herds. This is a very positive start to the BDGP as it means that already 25% of participants have completed their genotyping requirement in the BDGP. A reminder letter will issue to farmers who have not yet sent back their samples by the end of next week. The online facility for recording animal survey data is now open and around 5,500 farmers have used this method to complete their surveys with this number expected to rise.

In addition, my Department in conjunction with the ICBF and Teagasc are holding a series of information meetings nationwide for scheme participants. These meetings will enable farmers within the scheme to have one to one time with Department , ICBF and Teagasc staff in order to query any aspect of the scheme and look at their own personal circumstances with regards to the requirements they will have to fulfil to ensure full compliance, and therefore full payment, with the scheme.

TheBDGP is a new and innovative programme. It’s a world first in terms of bringing genomic technology to beef farming and can revolutionise beef breeding in this country and help to drive on-farm profitability, while improving the environmental sustainability of the beef.