Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Firstly it is important to say that I am satisfied with the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) participation rates. The BDGP was launched on 5 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 and builds on previous investment in suckler farming through schemes such as the nationally funded Beef Data Programme and the Beef Genomics Scheme. It should be remembered that 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 last August. At the same time a detailed ICBF report on all applicants’ herd profiles was sent. Approximately 4,562 herds have withdrawn from the scheme, though some of these have subsequently asked to re-enter.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.

The EU Regulations governing the administration of 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 9 0% 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 currently over 21,500 farmers have been paid a total of €39.2 million. Payments are continuing on an ongoing basis as compliance with the 2015 programme requirements is verified. Officials in my Department are actively engaging with the remaining farmers who have not yet completed the required level of 2015 requirements in order to maximise the programme participation rates.

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 provide both for payment of the outstanding 2015 cases and also for payment to those farmers that verify compliance with the 2016 scheme requirements later this year.