Skip to main content
Normal View

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2020

Wednesday, 11 November 2020

Questions (245)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

245. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to issues with the online application system for the BEEP (details supplied); the steps being taken to assess the situation and make necessary changes and help disadvantaged applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35467/20]

View answer

Written answers

The objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance, supporting decision making on farm and support of best practice in welfare management.

The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 15th May 2020. Applications could only be made via my Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. Over 27,000 participants successfully lodged applications for the scheme by the closing date.

A draft application was created by the person named on the 20th of April but it was not submitted. On both the 5th and 15th of May, a text message was sent to the person named advising them that they had not completed the application process and that their application needed attention in advance of the scheme application window closing. The action was not completed and the application was never fully submitted.

In this case, subsequent to the deadline for applications the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) did contact the applicant mistakenly on the 3 September in relation to the completion of scheme actions. This communication was corrected, and the applicant was advised by the ICBF on 8 October that they had not, in fact, completed an application for the scheme and should thus not have been contacted by the ICBF.

On the 12th October, the person named contacted my Department querying their application and asking to be included in the scheme. A letter issued on the 13th of October explaining the that the deadline for applications had passed and a late application could not be considered at that time. The letter also advised them of their right of review.

A letter was received from the person named on the 22nd October requesting a review of the decision in relation to their application for the scheme. This review was carried out and a decision letter issued on the 31st October outlining that an application could not be accepted after the closing date. This letter also indicated that if the person named was dissatisfied with that decision, they retained the right to appeal the matter to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Top
Share