Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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261. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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 a number of years. In the case of the BDGP, a six year commitment is required. Therefore, when 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.

Having reviewed the medical evidence and the Department's Animal Identification Movement (AIM) system, it has been decided that the person named can withdraw from programme without recoupment.

A letter has issued to the person named informing him of this decision and the overpayment will now be reversed.