Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1157. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the study by a company (details supplied) relating to the beef sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1528/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Three separate but related market transparency studies have been procured as agreed in the beef sector agreement of September 2019. Some delays in this work occurred as an inevitable result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at the most recent Beef Taskforce meeting held on 17th December 2020 (virtually), the consultancy commissioned to carried out the studies updated on progress as follows:

- Report one; an overview of competition law as it relates to the beef sector in Ireland is complete and is published on the DAFM website here:

- Report two; an independent review of the market and customer requirements of Irish beef is at an advanced draft stage and the latest draft has been circulated to Taskforce members for comment.

- Report three; price composition along the supply chain is at an advanced stage and a draft will be circulated to the Taskforce for comment shortly.

All three reports will be available on my Department's website when finalised.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1158. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the beef producer organisations currently registered; the number of farmers affiliated to each organisation; the amount of beef produced in 2020 per each organisation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1529/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In the beef sector, there are currently two recognised Producer Organisations (POs) under SI 49 of 2016. These Organisations make annual returns to my Department on their activities in line with regulations and relevant details are published on my Department's website. Commercially sensitive information such as membership numbers and throughput are not published by DAFM.

My Department has long been committed to assisting any new applications for recognition and officials are currently engaging with a number of other groups with a view to developing an application. Currently, in the beef sector, there is support available in the form of grant aid of up to €3,000 per group for advisory costs for establishment. Opportunities for enhancement of support to Producer Organisations in the beef sector will be considered in the context of the next CAP.