Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated to a scheme for beef finishers from 2019 to 2022; the proposed reforms of the scheme in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52423/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The following recent support schemes specifically targeted beef finishers:

In 2019, the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was a once off, co-funded exceptional temporary adjustment aid scheme to support beef farmers (including finishers) in the context of market disturbance caused by uncertainty due to Brexit. This scheme was co-funded by the EU under the exceptional aid provisions of the CMO Regulation, with a total allocation of up to €100 million. Eligibility and payment was based on both finished animals and suckler cows. This scheme was demand- led and 32,500 farmers drew down €78 million of support under this scheme.

In 2020, in response to market disturbances caused by the emergent COVID-19 pandemic, a further once off demand-led exceptional aid payment was made to beef finishers under the Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme.

The BFP scheme was exchequer funded, and approved under the EU's COVID-19 State Aid Temporary Framework, with the objective of providing support for beef finishing farms which had been severely impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and was based on animals presented for slaughter in a previous specific period. €50 million was allocated and 27,200 farmers drew down €46.6 million of aid under this measure.

Other support schemes available to beef farmers, but not specifically targeted at finishers, are as follows:

Funding of over €85 million has been provided in the 2022 Budget for targeted supports for the beef sector including BDGP, BEEP-S, and the Dairy Calf Programme. The details are currently being finalised and will be announced in due course.