Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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566. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who participated in the beef environmental efficiency programme - suckler (BEEP-S), by county, in 2022, in tabular form; the average payment, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25883/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler (BEEP-S) aimed to increase the efficiency of Ireland’s suckler herd by improving the data that is collected about the herd. This was a nationally funded scheme in 2022.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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567. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation to beef sustainability schemes in each of the years 2020 to 2024, by scheme and by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25884/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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All beef schemes implemented in recent years have had sustainability as a core objective. The measures designed exclusively the beef sector are outlined below.

In relation to current beef sustainability schemes, allocations have been approved to date in 2023 for the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, the National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme and the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. Allocations for beef sustainability schemes in 2024 will be a matter for Budget 2024.

The Beef Finishers Payment (BFP) 2020

The BFP scheme was an exchequer funded grant aid scheme with a budget allocation of €50m introduced to compensate beef finishers for market disturbances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Sucklers (BEEP-S) 2020, 2021 & 2022

BEEP-S was implemented to further increase the economic and environmental efficiency of the suckler herd through the collection of better quality data on herd performance to support better decision making at farm level. Successive schemes followed in 2021 and 2022. The budget allocation for the scheme was €40m annually.

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP)

The BDGP was part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It targeted improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd, reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production and improving farmer profitability. It was extended in 2021 for eligible participants who wished to continue in the scheme. A further annual extension of the 2021 BDGP contract was offered to all 2021 participants.

National Dairy Beef Welfare Schemes (NDBWS) – 2021 pilot, 2022 & 2023

These schemes with an annual budget allocation of €5m facilitate the integration of the dairy and beef sectors by supporting farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd for beef production.

Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme (SCEP)

The SCEP, which has a total budget allocation of €260m and will operate on the basis of a 5-year contract, aims to improve the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd and reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of Irish beef production.

No expenditure has yet been incurred in respect of the SCEP or the 2023 NDBWS which were launched earlier this year.