John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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783. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal in relation to a decision made under the BEEP scheme in the name of a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved based on the exceptional circumstances of the case and the hardship being experienced by the appellant; the reason ]the person was informed by a Department official prior to submitting the appeal that the appeal was unlikely to succeed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59121/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of 2022 Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers (BEEP-S) is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected. This is done through the enhancement of the national herd dataset for genetic evaluations, with a view to supporting the adoption of best practice and more informed decision making at farm level. The Programme targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves through the collection of the live weights of cows and progeny in the herd of each participant; improving the welfare of suckler calves at the time of weaning through vaccination and meal feeding; and controlling liver fluke in adult suckler cows.

The scheme opened for applications on 15th March 2022 and closed without late penalty on 25th April 2022. It remained open for applications, albeit with a late penalty , until 20th May 2022.

The person named never submitted an application for the scheme in this period. My Department subsequently received a request from the person named for inclusion in the scheme on 24th October 2022. Following consideration of the information submitted by the person named, the application was not accepted. They were informed of this decision by letter dated the 24th October 2022 when they were also advised of their right to seek a review.

The person named submitted a request for a review on the 18th of November 2022 and a letter issued on the 21st of November 2022 informing them that following consideration of their case and the information supplied, their review was unsuccessful. They were advised that they retained the right to appeal the Department’s decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office. My officials understand that to date, no such appeal has been received in the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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784. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a parcel of land that has never drawn down entitlements can now establish entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59165/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of payment entitlements on land for which a farmer holds no payment entitlements is provided for under the National Reserve. Under the CAP since 2015 the National Reserve provided an allocation of payment entitlements to two mandatory categories of young farmer and new entrant to farming. Under the new CAP from 2023 the National Reserve will provide an allocation of payment entitlements to two mandatory categories of young farmer and new farmer.

Successful applicants must meet the scheme eligibility criteria with regard to the date of commencement of agricultural activity, agricultural educational qualifications, and in the case of applicants under the young farmer category, the applicant must be no more than 40 years of age in the year of submission of the application under the National Reserve.

A successful applicant under the National Reserve is eligible to receive an allocation of payment entitlements at the national average payment entitlement value on eligible land for which the applicant holds no payment entitlements and/or a top-up on existing payment entitlements they hold below the national average payment entitlement to bring those entitlements up to the national average entitlement value.