Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016
244. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider re-opening the beef data and genomics scheme to new applications, given that participation rates are well below the original participation target set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16571/16]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with some €300 million of funding over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme has been agreed with the European Commission as part of the Rural Development Plan (2014-2020) for Ireland. I am conscious of the positive impact that the BDGP will have on the Irish suckler herd both in meeting the objectives of the scheme in the context of the commitments Irish agriculture must make in the area of Climate Change and also in improving the productivity and profitability of the Irish suckler herd.
Any decision on the extension of the scheme will take place within the context of an assessment of budgetary priorities, the operations of the Rural Development Programme and the potential impact on other schemes.
