Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated turnaround time in relation to applications for BEEP-S; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26922/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler (BEEP - S) Scheme targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves by measuring the live weight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's live weight. In recognition of the crucial role of animal health and welfare in economic and environmental efficiency, applicants to the scheme can also select from a number of optional health and welfare measures including meal feeding or vaccination of weanlings and/or faecal egg testing of suckler cows.

The programme is open to all suckler beef farmers who commit to completing the mandatory weighing action required within the duration of the programme as well as any optional welfare enhancement actions chosen by applicants .

Applications can only be made via the Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 26th April 2021 with late application being accepted up to 21st May 2021. Late penalties are applied to applications lodged after 26th April in line with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme.

To-date, 27,402 participants successfully lodged applications for the scheme. Approval letters have issued to 27,058 eligible participants who lodged applications before the closing date. Approval letters to remaining eligible participants who lodged late applications will issue after 21st May 2021.

Participating farmers are free to start carrying out the required actions under the scheme now. To-date, in excess of 2,000 herds have submitted weights for over 34,000 cow/calf pairs and over 700 sets of weighing scales have been rented from a network of depots across the country.