Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Schemes

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1805. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the decision to refuse an appeal under the BEAM scheme in the name of a person (details supplied) given that they could not reduce the herd due to TB; and if the decision can be overturned on compassionate or force majeure grounds. [63837/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland. The granting of the aid was subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132.

Just over 33,000 participants, including the person named, joined the scheme and, in doing so, gave a commitment to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on the holding by 5% for the reduction period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the reference period of 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019 as recorded on the Department's AIM system.

Following the end of the reduction period, my Department undertook a series of administrative and compliance checks to ensure that the commitments farmers had entered into under the BEAM Terms and Conditions had been met.

Participants who had been restricted due to an outbreak of TB on their holding during the reduction period had their 5% bovine nitrates reduction commitment reduced in line with the length of their restriction(s).

In the case of the person named, even after applying the proportionate adjustment to his 5% reduction requirement to take account of the TB restriction, the commitment to reduce the bovine livestock manure nitrogen by 5% was not met and, as a result, all BEAM monies received were to be recouped.

The person named was informed of this by letter which also advised him of his right to request a review of the decision if they so wished.

The person named contacted my Department to request such a review and the outcome of that review issued to him on 16 June 2022, upholding my Department's original decision and advising them of their right to appeal the outcome to the Agriculture Appeals Office if they so wished. To date there is no record of an appeal being lodged.

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