Written answers

Thursday, 21 January 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Beef Genomics Scheme

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated expenditure under the beef data and genomics scheme in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2306/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme was launched on the 5th of May 2015 and forms a part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme that runs from 2014 to 2020. The programme has funding of €300 million euro over its lifespan. The programme builds on previous investment in suckler farming through schemes such as the nationally funded Beef Data Programme and the Beef Genomics Scheme. Suckler farming is the only sector in the RDP with its own targeted RDP scheme.

The principal objective of this scheme is to encourage the introduction of higher genetic merit animals into the National beef herd. This will reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of beef production in Ireland by improving production efficiency on suckler farms. My Department received 29,780 applications, having extended the closing date by an additional week to 5 June 2015.

Approval letters were issued to scheme participants in August. At the same time a detailed ICBF report on all applicants’ herd profiles was sent. Approximately 3,000 herds have withdrawn from the scheme, though some of these have subsequently asked to re-enter. Withdrawals from a scheme such as this are, of course, not unusual, particularly when one considers the simple application procedure and the high volume of applicants. There are eligibility issues with a further five hundred applicants, which are being examined and finalised.

The EU Regulations governing the administration this programme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. In order to be eligible for a payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year, applicants must have submitted at least 60% of the required survey data and completed 90% of the required genomic sampling and must also have passed the required administration checks and any on farm inspections.

Payments commenced on target in December and the initial payment run saw 16,000 applicants paid a total of €30.2 million. The first pay run in 2016 resulted in a further €1.4 million issuing to 750 farmers. Payments will now continue on an ongoing basis as compliance is verified.

In order to be eligible for payment in 2016 participants must complete the required data notifications, carry out the required genotyping and also participate in the general BDGP Training and complete a carbon navigator with a trained advisor. The 2016 budget for the programme is €52 million. This will both provide for payment of the outstanding 2015 cases and also for those that verify compliance with the 2016 scheme requirements later this year.

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