Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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812. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding 2019 BDGP payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41392/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six year payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.

There are currently some 23,921 participants in BDGP I & II and it provides for annual payments to participating farmers for completion of defined actions as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. 

Payments under the 2019 Programme year for both BDGP I and BDGP II commenced in December 2019 and to date a total of 23,015active participants have received payments of some €41.59m. 

Remaining participants may be paid once compliance is achieved with the requirements of the Programme.  Further pay runs will be made to those farmers as they become eligible for payment.

I was happy to confirm recently that BDGP I will be extended for a further year in 2021, and my Department will be writing to participants in this regard shortly. 

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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813. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of 2019 partnership cases for BDGP in which payment is outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41393/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six year payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.

There are currently some 23,921 participants in BDGP and it provides for annual payments to participating farmers for completion of defined actions as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. 

There are in excess of 550 partnerships in BDGP currently, of which 32 have not yet received payment under BDGP for 2019.  These cases are being prioritised with a view to completing payment processing as soon as possible.