Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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561. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when and the reason an appeal by a person (details supplied) was unsuccessful given the requirement for early slaughter due to a TB outbreak and the difficulty this outcome poses with BEAM compliance; if his Department corresponded directly with farmers in the BEAM scheme who had a TB outbreak outlining options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28178/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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One of the conditions of the BEAM scheme under which the €50 million was granted by the EU was that there had to be an element of reduction or re-structuring built into the scheme - Article 1 (3) of (EU) 2019/1132 refers. Accordingly, in applying for BEAM, participants agreed to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on their holding by 5% for the reduction period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the reference period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019.

Section 7.1.1.1 of the Terms and Conditions of BEAM outlines how a derogation from all or part of the reduction requirement could be considered in certain circumstances but that applications for such a derogation must have been made prior to 30th September 2019. No such application was received from the person named.

An appeal was lodged on 7th May 2021 through a Teagasc Advisor requesting a derogation from the 5% reduction requirement. The person named has been informed that this appeal has been unsuccessful and they have been advised of their right to request a review of that decision internally with the Department if they so wish. The applicant also has recourse to the Agricultural Appeals Office.

In recent weeks, the Department has written to all BEAM participants who have been restricted by TB during the reduction period and advising them of changes to their 5% bovine nitrates value as a result of the length of their restriction. The Department will continue communicating with BEAM participants impacted by TB.