Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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771. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if calves born after the cut-off date for the beef dairy calf programme in 2022 will be eligible for inclusion in the 2023 dairy beef calf scheme in view of a retro-eligibility measure being undertaken by his Department to facilitate those with calves born after 1 July 2021 to be included in the 2022 dairy beef calf scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12892/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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773. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an annual review will be carried out by his Department to determine the funding allocation for the beef dairy calf programme over the duration of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12894/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 771 and 773 together.

Details of the 2022 dairy beef calf measure are currently being finalised and will be announced shortly. 

In relation to future of the scheme in 2023 and beyond, as the Deputy may be aware, a continuation of this measure is proposed as part of Ireland's CAP strategic plan which was submitted to the EU Commission at the end of 2021. The details of the measure will be announced following the ongoing EU and national approvals processes for the CAP Strategic Plan. 

However, in the context of the design of the scheme, consideration is always given to the need for both continuity of support for farmers and the collection of comprehensive performance data for the national herd to achieve policy objectives.

In relation to funding allocations, rates payable under the dairy beef calf measure are developed on the principle of costs incurred and income foregone.  Rates for this and similar schemes are subject to ongoing review in my Department.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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772. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received by his Department for the dairy beef calf scheme in 2021 by county in tabular form; the number of payments that have been issued to farmers to date; if additional funding was required to meet demand for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12893/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Information on the 2021 Dairy Beef Calf Scheme is attached as requested. No extra funding was required for the scheme in 2021.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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774. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment for a herd for additional work under the hen harrier scheme will be made to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12920/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Hen Harrier Programme is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hen Harrier Project Ltd. I can confirm that the habitat payment for 2021 for the person in question has recently been issued to him by the Hen Harrier Project Ltd. His annual works balancing payment has been approved by the Department and will issue to the Hen Harrier Project Ltd in the next week.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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775. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a case (details supplied); if the matter will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Applications from participants in the 2020 Beef Data and Genomics Programme who were deemed eligible to continue their participation in the BDGP 2021 transitional programme could be submitted using the Department’s online facility through www.agfood.ie either by the applicant themselves or by an individual authorised to act on their behalf.

The opening date for receipt of applications was 15th December 2020 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 15th January 2021.

Applications were also accepted by means of response to a dedicated SMS text message that issued to all eligible farmers who had agreed to receive SMS text alerts from the Department. This was to facilitate farmers who could either not access the online facility or who were restricted from meeting their agent due to public health guidelines.

Three separate SMS text messages issued to herdowners by the Department requesting a reply if they wished to extend their participation in BDGP. The first SMS issued on 18th December 2020. The second issued on 8th January 2021 to those who had not yet applied for the rollover of BDGP while the third issued on 12th January 2021 to those who had still not replied.

The person named was issued a letter from the Department in December 2020, informing him that he was eligible to apply for the extension and explaining the application procedure.  Department records also show that the person named was sent SMS messages, but no reply was ever received.

As no valid application was received from the person named he is not eligible to participate in the 2021 BDGP programme. There is no provision for accepting any late applications after the closing date.

No request for a review was received from the person named.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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776. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the next deadline dates for European Innovation Partnerships in Agriculture in particular in relation to north County Leitrim (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13019/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Farmers in all areas of the country will be able to participate in the proposed new agri-environment climate measure (AECM) under the next CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The new AECM Scheme will have a General stream and a Co-Operation stream.  The Co-Operation stream will be managed by new Co-Operation Project teams.

The map for the Co-Operation stream of the new AECM scheme identifies eight Co-Operation zones, including land in north Leitrim.  Farmers within these high priority geographical areas will be eligible to apply to join the AECM Co-operation stream.  

Farmers in those areas will engage in the new AECM through the new Co-operation Project teams. These farmers in turn will benefit from higher payment rates, up to a maximum €10,500 per year, should they participate and undertake the most environmentally ambitious actions. 

A tender process for the establishment and management of the co-operation projects was launched at the end of January 2022. The Co-operation Project teams, to be selected following this tender process, will be building on the learnings of the current European Innovation Partnership projects (EIPs) from all around the country.  

Under the draft CSP submitted to Brussels in December 2021, there is also provision for a new round of EIP Calls for Proposals from 2023 onwards.  This is completely separate to the new AECM scheme. No dates have yet been set for any new Calls for Proposals.