Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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952. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a derogation from the 5% bovine livestock manure nitrogen on a holding that is locked up due to TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5740/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall in light of market disturbance.  

One of the conditions under which the €50 million was granted by the EU was that there had to be an element of reduction or re-structuring built in to the scheme. Accordingly, in applying for BEAM, participants agreed to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on their holding by 5% for the period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019.

Participating farmers whose herds have been locked up with TB can apply for a full or partial derogation from the nitrates reduction requirement in the BEAM on the grounds of force majeure. Force majeure requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.