Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28937/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was approved as an agri-environment scheme by the EU Commission as part of Ireland's RDP with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the suckler herd.

The Person named recently successfully appealed to amalgamate their BDGP application with that of another applicant. Due to the changes applied to the reference area and animals additional animals need to be genotyped in order to adhere to the terms and conditions that govern the Programme.

Genomic test kits for these animals have recently been issued to the person named. Payment will be considered once the Department has been notified that the test samples have been submitted.

Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to withdraw from the suckler welfare scheme due to ill health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28948/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was approved as an agri environment scheme by the EU Commission as part of Ireland's RDP with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the suckler herd. As with all agri environment schemes, applicants commit to participating in the scheme for the full duration of the scheme, which is six years in the case of BDGP. Therefore if a participant withdraws from the BDGP all payments previously made are subject to recovery.

In certain limited circumstances however it may be possible to withdraw from the scheme without recovery of previous payments on force majeure grounds, as set out below.

- death of the beneficiary,

- long term professional incapacity of the beneficiary,

- expropriation of all or a large part of the holding if that expropriation could not have been anticipated on the day of lodging the application,

- a severe natural disaster gravely affecting the holding,

- the accidental destruction of livestock buildings on the holding,

- an epizootic or a plant disease affecting part or all of the beneficiary's livestock or crops respectively.

Any request to withdraw from the BDGP must be made in writing as soon as possible, and should be accompanied by any relevant supporting documentation. Such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

A member of staff has contacted the person named who has advised that medical evidence will be submitted. The matter will be examined when this material is received.