Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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981. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers excluded from the BEAM scheme due to the fact they are not signed up to the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme; the value of payments withheld as a result; the corresponding figures for the Covid beef scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38380/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Over 27,000 farmers successfully applied for the Beef Finisher Payment and have been paid €46.5 million. Under the scheme, applicants were required to be a member of the Bord Bia Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance scheme at the time of application, or to become a member prior to 30 September, 2020. 668 applications were received under the BFP which did not meet the requirement. The number of animals linked to these ineligible applications represent a potential payment of €252,700.

Approximately €77.7 million has been paid out to 33,445 farmers who successfully applied for the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM). Applicants were required to be a member of at least one environmental or quality scheme at the time of application, or to become a member of a quality scheme prior to 1 December, 2019. 436 applications were received under the BEAM which did not meet this requirement. The number of animals linked to these ineligible applications represent a potential payment of €436,940.