Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of EU member states that have a suckler cow welfare scheme in operation under the RDP; and the details on the average payment per cow if available. [30774/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under the RDP support for animal welfare is programmed under Measure 14.  Seventeen Member States, including Ireland for the sheep sector, have activated Measure 14 as of May 2017. However, information on the specific livestock supported and average payments in each Member State is not readily available.

There are a range of supports under Ireland's RDP for the suckler sector including the €300m Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP). In response to significant demand, earlier this year I reopened the BDGP Programme for new entrants.

While BDGP is the main support, there are a range of further supports provided to suckler farmers under the RDP such as Knowledge Transfer Groups, GLAS, TAMS and supports to ANCs.