Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
379. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare may be included in the beef data and genomics programme, having first bred calves in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28440/15]
View answerThe Terms and Conditions of the Beef Data Genomics Programme provide that 2014 is the reference year for both animals and land. This year was chosen as reference animals and land has already been determined and so would enable earlier payment to participants. However, in certain circumstances such as new entrants to suckler farming, where 2014 is not a representative year, animals and land in 2015 can be used. The person named should contact the Beef Schemes Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise in writing specifying the reasons why he would prefer to use 2015 as his reference year and providing any supporting documentation he deems relevant to his case. An official from my Department has recently been in direct contact with the person named to discuss the matter.
