Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2015
132. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants paid under the beef data scheme 2013; the total value issued; the number of applicants awaiting payment; the total amount due; the number of applicants under the 2014 scheme; when they will be paid; the total moneys due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/15]
View answerPayments of €9.18 million were made to 26,715 participants under the 2013 Beef Data Programme. My Department is currently validating the applications of remaining participants to establish the number that will be eligible for payment. When the validation process is completed, the number of eligible applicants and amount payable can be established.
There are currently approximately 38,000 applicants under the 2014 Beef Data Programme. Applicants cannot complete the submission of data under this Programme until the late-born animals concerned are five months of age. Therefore, my Department will not be in a position to validate all data under the 2014 Beef Data Programme until May 2015. It is not possible, therefore, to establish the number of applicants due payment and the amounts involved until that time.
