Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
477. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a €200 subsidy for suckler cows in view of the lack of profitability and the drop in suckler cow numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3938/18]
View answerI am acutely aware of the importance of the suckler sector to Ireland's rural economy and the wider agrifood industry. As such, my Department provides a range of supports to the suckler herd. A number of direct payment and grant schemes provide vital income and investment support to the suckler sector, including BPS, ANC, GLAS and TAMS.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which provides Irish beef farmers with some €300 million in funding over the current Rural Development Programme period. Responding to significant demand, last year I reopened the BDGP programme for new entrants, reflecting the success of this programme, which targets both the environmental footprint and the profitability of the suckler herd through improving the genetic merit in participating herds. There are currently approximately 25,000 herds covered between the two schemes.
The range of supports as currently configured represents a balance between direct income support for the sector and rural development measures designed to improve its competitiveness and sustainability. Considering the existing supports in place, I do not have plans to introduce any additional schemes to support the suckler herd, including the proposed scheme mentioned by the Deputy.
Any introduction of a coupled suckler cow payment under Pillar I would necessitate a linear reduction in all farmers' existing BPS of approximately €175 million, based on the number of suckler cows in the most recent AIM statistics, to fund such a scheme.
