Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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839. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants, the total number of eligible suckler cows for which payments are made and the average herd size under the suckler carbon efficiency programme in each of the years 2023 and 2024. [44456/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Payments in SCEP are calculated on the number of eligible forage hectares submitted by an active participant on their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application, subject to their maximum payable area (MPA). A participants MPA is derived from their yearly reference number divided by 1.5. For example, a farmer with a yearly reference number of 21 would have an MPA of 14 hectares (21 /1.5).

The total MPA on which payments were made in respect of Scheme Year 1 (01 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) was circa 236,102 eligible forage hectares which equates to supports being provided to some 354,153 suckler cows to 16,997 SCEP participants, with an average herd size of 21 cows.

Payments for scheme year 2 (01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) will commence in December 2024.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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840. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual funding under the tillage incentive scheme that was expended on payments for newly converted lands and maintenance payments, respectively, in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form. [44457/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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841. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area under the tillage incentive scheme that received payments for newly converted lands payment and for maintaining tillage land, respectively, in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form. [44458/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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842. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated for the tillage incentive scheme in each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form. [44459/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 840 to 842, inclusive, together.

The Tillage Incentive Scheme was introduced in 2022 in direct response to the illegal invasion of the Ukraine. It was a one-year scheme to provide support for the conversion of eligible grassland into specific tillage crops. This increased tillage area would help in reducing the dependency on imported feed material directly impacted by the war in the Ukraine.

The scheme was extended into 2023 and again provided support for newly converted grassland in 2023, in addition to providing a maintenance payment for those who continued to maintain their overall tillage area from 2022.

In 2024 the scheme will provide a maintenance payment to those farmers who converted grassland in 2023 and continue to maintain their overall tillage area in 2024. I have allocated €30 million for a new tillage scheme in 2025.

Breakdown of data requested

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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843. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive their Areas of Natural Constraints payment for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44550/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An application for participation in the 2024 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme was received from the above named applicant on the 12th March, 2024.

Following completion of the relevant administration checks by this Department, payment under the 2024 ANC scheme issued to the person named on 1st November, 2024 and will be lodged to their nominated bank account.

Payment can take up to seven working days to appear in an applicant’s account.