Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the areas he will target with underspend from the beef data and genomics programme in view of the fact that only €37 million will issue in 2017 payments behind the annual €52 million originally committed under the scheme when launched. [2664/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a number of supports to the suckler herd. A range of direct payments and  grant schemes provide vital income and investment support to the suckler sector, including BPS, ANC, GLAS and TAMS.

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which will provide Irish beef farmers with some €300 million of funding over the lifetime of the current RDP.  Last April the BDGP was reopened to beef suckler farmers who were not already part of the scheme. BDGP provides for payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.

€38.2m was paid in 2017 in respect of the 2017 scheme year. However, €46.2m was actually paid in 2017 in respect of 2017 and earlier scheme years, along with training and carbon navigator payments. Payments for the 2017 scheme year will continue to be made as further herds become compliant. The final spend will not be fully quantified until all payments to applicants for their actions in 2017 have been completed.