Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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830. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the calf welfare scheme in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35390/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Calf Investment Scheme was open for applications from 7 January 2020 to 28 January 2020. The scheme offered a range of on-farm investment items for calf rearing and welfare facilities. Over 2,500 farmers applied to the scheme and a budget of €4million was allocated to ensure all eligible applications would be fully funded. Grant aid of up to €3,000 per holding was made available under this scheme.

The deadline for receipt of payment claims and associated documentation was 30 September 2020. Payments began as payment claims were submitted and are issuing on an ongoing basis as cases are cleared for payment. There are currently no plans to extend the Calf Investment Scheme into 2021.