Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am very conscious of the importance of the Irish suckler cow herd to the Irish beef sector and wider rural economy. It is a clear objective of mine to ensure that this sector continues to receive the necessary measures and supports to address the challenge of profitability within the sector. In addition to the support the Basic Payment Scheme makes to this sector, a range of measures introduced under the Rural Development Programme also help to improve efficiency and profitability on farm and to support environmentally sustainable production such as TAMS, GLAS , Knowledge Transfer Groups and of course the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. The Department of Agriculture introduced an Animal Welfare Recording and Breeding Scheme for suckler cows for the period from 2008 – 2012 based on a premium rate initially of €80 per suckler cow which was reduced to €40 per cow for 2009 and subsequent years due to the increased pressure on the national finances. In excess of €63 million was paid on animals born in 2008 . However, by the end of this scheme, the annual cost including administrative costs was an estimated €33 million euro per annum. The cost of re-instating such a scheme at the rates mentioned would clearly be dependent on the number of applicants and number of eligible cows.

This Department introduced in 2015 the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, or BDGP, as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. An allocation of €300 million was made available within the scheme to address the widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the suckler herd in Ireland, reduce the Greenhouse Gas intensity of Irish beef production and most importantly to make a positive contribution to the future viability of suckler farmers.

In excess of €37 million has paid to over 21,000 participants in the scheme so far and since March of this year training courses have been held for participants on behalf of Teagasc with a high level of farmer satisfaction in terms of both the scheme itself and the training provided on behalf of Teagasc.

Furthermore, last week I launched the Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme which has been allocated €100 million from the Rural Development Fund for the roll-out of Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of enterprises, including beef and suckler farmers. Farmers participating in such groups will receive a payment of €750 per annum.