Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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2532. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support the implementation of a new BEAM scheme (details supplied) given predicted oversupply of beef product in the meat sector here due to international factors relating to Covid-19 restrictions and increased output in the dairy sector here as pursued by Teagasc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19966/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The nature of all markets is that the price will fluctuate especially in the case of market disturbance, as has been evidenced during the COVID-19 crisis and also the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Brexit. My Department continuously monitors the market situation for beef and other agri-food commodities, with a view to responding to crisis situations where possible.

A good example of such a response is the €50 million funding provided for the Beef Finishers Payment (BFP) under the COVID-19 temporary state aid framework. The Beef Finishers Payment (BFP) provided support for beef finishers who were most affected by the market disturbance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Department and I are working to ensure that business and services to farmers can continue, keeping food and other processing facilities operational, ensuring that payments and commercial activities that are necessary to protect farm incomes can continue. In addition, my Department continues to monitor the broader context and specifically any market impact of COVID-19.

On a wider level, my Department provides a range of financial aids to support beef farm incomes and to support economic and environmental efficiency. The core support for the beef sector under the current RDP is the €300 Million Beef Data and Genomics Programme. In addition to this support, over the last two years, over €200 million of additional supports were made available specifically to the beef sector, including the BEAM and BEEP schemes in 2019 and the Beef Finishers Payment and BEEP-S in 2020. In addition, the Beef Sector Efficiency Pilot with allocation of €45 million has been launched recently. I have also, for the first time, secured €6m in funding to promote our world-class suckler brand abroad.

In relation to the market situation in 2021, the week 14 (commencing 05/04/21) R3 Steer price is 10.5% above last year's price, while year to date slaughter is 11.7% down on the same period in 2020. Further details are available on my Department's website at the following link:

gov.ie - Meat Market Reports (www.gov.ie)