Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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474. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a response to correspondence (details supplied) will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027 which lists the range of interventions currently being proposed, was submitted to the EU Commission on 31st December 2021.

As you may be aware, one of the intervention proposed therein is an agri-environment climate measure (AECM). This proposed measure includes a Rare Breeds action.

The details of the proposed scheme are still being developed including the specification for each proposed action. The specification will list the eligible breeds and also the requirements on herdowners when undertaking that action as part of their AECM contract. I note that the breed society in question made submissions to the Department as part of the public consultation processes.

I also note that representatives of the Irish Native Rare Breeds Society met with the Department officials dealing with the new AECM to discuss the proposed Rare Breeds action. A response to the points raised in the correspondence dated 27th January will issue to indicate that the issue raised will be considered when finalising the specification for the proposed Rare Breed action.

There is a real role to be played by Rare Breeds in the overall agricultural ecosystem and I am keen to explore further options.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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475. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a beef suckler payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5575/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the 2021 BEEP-S was to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected. The scheme opened for applications on 16th March 2021 and closed without late penalty on 26th April 2021. It remained open, albeit with a late penalty from 27th April 2021 until 21st May 2021.

The opening and closing dates for the scheme were set out in the Press Release on the 16th March 2021 and in the farming media. A series of texts also issued to herd owners, including the person named, informing them of the deadline for applications for the scheme.

The person named did not create or submit an application for the 2021 BEEP-S programme and as such cannot be considered for payment under the scheme.