Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

339. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure will be accepted on a suckler carbon efficiency programme application by a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37761/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to 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.

As per the terms and conditions of SCEP, under the requirements of the programme action 1 – Eligible Bull/Eligible AI, applicants are required to maintain a proportion of high genetic merit animals on their holding. In each scheme year, applicants must calve at least 50% beef breed animals of their yearly reference number. In scheme year 1 and 2, 80% of these calves must have been sired from a 4 or 5 star source, i.e., a genotyped 4 or 5 star bull on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a within or across breed basis) and/or if using AI, the AI straw used on participating holdings must be from a 4 or 5 star eligible bull on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a within or across breed basis). This increases to 85% in scheme years 3 and 4 and 90% in scheme year 5.

Failure to meet this requirement in 2024 results in no payment for the action plus an additional 20% penalty. There was a derogation from this requirement for Scheme year 1 only.

My Department received a request for review on behalf of the person named on 8 August 2024, which was deemed unsuccessful. A letter issued to the person named on 28 August 2024 confirming this and informing him of his right to request a review of this decision to the SCEP section. To date, the SCEP section has not received a request for review of this decision. A request for review can be submitted in writing to SCEP@agriculture.gov.ie.