Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide progress and a timeline for the announcement and implementation of the replacement scheme for BEEP; if measures are being taken to ensure the new scheme adequately addresses the concerns raised by farmers to sustain the suckler sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The importance of beef production enterprises to the overall agri-food sector and to a balanced regional economy is well understood by the Government. My Department has already rolled out two schemes this year that will provide significant benefits to the beef sector.

The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), which will run from 2023 to 2027, is designed to support farmers in improving the environmental sustainability and genetic merit of the suckler herd. The scheme is a successor to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) but also incorporates the weighing measure from the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme -Suckler (BEEP-S) and aims to build on the gains achieved through the BDGP and the BEEP-S.

Additionally, last March, I launched the National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (NDBWS) to facilitate the integration of the dairy and beef sectors by supporting farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd for beef production.

The SCEP has attracted some 20,000 applications while over 14,000 farmers have applied to join the NDBWS. The high level of uptake for both schemes signifies that farmers see the benefits of those schemes in sustaining the sector.

My officials are currently working on refining the operational aspects of a further one-year, Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funded scheme to be known as the National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS). The policy objective of the NBWS is to further increase economic efficiency and enhance animal health and husbandry on suckler farms.

While the terms and conditions of the scheme remain to be finalised, it is expected that applications will open in late July / early August 2023 and close in mid-September 2023, with payments commencing in December 2023. Scheme details and requirements will be announced in due course.

Through these supports and other interventions, I am continuing to strongly support Irish beef production and sustain the farmers whose livelihoods depend on it.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the number of farmers who have applied to join the newly introduced suckler carbon efficiency programme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29369/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) is to provide support to suckler and beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.

The online applications system for SCEP opened on 20 March 2023 and closed on 22 May 2023. There is a 25-calendar day period after the 22 May 2023 closing date during which late applications are accepted with a reduction in payment of 1% per working day. Applications received after the 25 days period are ineligible.

As of 14 June 2023, there were 20,684 applications received under SCEP.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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481. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details on the specific criteria farmers need to meet in order to join the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme and thereby be eligible for participation in the suckler carbon efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29370/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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482. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm the estimated time duration involved in obtaining certification under the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme, from the initial application to the final approval; how long the certification process typically takes for farmers interested in joining the scheme, including those in the SCEP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29371/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I introduced a new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) in March 2023 which is the replacement for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP).

My Department has published the eligibility requirements applicants must meet. Membership of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme (SBLAS) is required as the carbon footprint generated following the SBLAS audit will be used to measure changes over the course of the contract. Applicants to SCEP have until October 16th to achieve certification to the SBLAS.

The Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Scheme is run and operated by Bord Bia. I am advised that applications to join the SBLAS can be made over the phone by contacting the Bord Bia service office on 062 54900. I am further advised that the application process requires the producer to provide their herd number and contact information. Once registered with Bord Bia, the time duration to obtain certification is dependant on the degree of collaboration by the applicant with the auditors.

In terms of agreeing a date for the audit, I am advised that Bord Bia advises that farmers should allow for a period of approximately six weeks following the date of the audit to certification: this is allowing for a 28 day close out period for farmers should any non-compliances be raised during the audit, and then two weeks for the completion of the review and certification process.

New applicants for SBLAS are being prioritised by Bord Bia in terms of audit scheduling, but applicants are encouraged to agree the earliest possible audit date when contacted.

A Helpdesk is available to support farmers through the full SBLAS process and can be contacted on 01 5250410 from 9am until 8pm, Monday to Friday.