Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2015
32. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active applicants in the beef data and genomics scheme; the number who have submitted samples; the number of samples submitted; the number who have returned the survey online or by post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35903/15]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme forms part of Irelands Rural Development Programme, and will involve a budget of some €300m over a six year period. It is intended to improve the quality of the national suckler herd and deliver an accelerated improvement in the environmental sustainability of the beef herd through the application of genomics technology.
A total of 27,790 applicants continue to participate in the Beef Data Genomics Programme. The ICBF are continuing to issue genotype sample kits to participating herds. To date genotype samples have been submitted to the laboratory by 10,542 herds for some 107,000 animals. Of this number more than 9,400 herds have submitted all their samples.
A total of 8,165 applicants have returned their survey forms through the post with a further 2,000 applicants recording data online.
