Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have received payment under the beef data and genomics scheme to date; the number of persons who applied to join the scheme; if he will re-open the scheme to further applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5396/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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EU Regulations require that full and comprehensive administration checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, are completed before any payment issues. To date payments amounting to almost €37 million have issued to more than 20, 000 herds under the Beef Data and Genomics Program. Payments are continuing on an ongoing basis as compliance is achieved.

Initially 29,865 applications to participate in the Programme were received by my Department and to date 4 ,285 applicants have withdrawn. Of these, 105 applicants who withdrew subsequently requested re-entry and were duly accepted. A further 132 herds have been excluded due to an absence of eligible animals.

There is evidence of interest in joining the scheme from farmers who missed the application deadline. I am keeping the question of reopening the scheme under review having regard to the Department’s overall budgetary position and other demands under the Rural Development Programme.