Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020
361. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a refusal for the beef finisher scheme was issued to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary despite the applicant being able to provide evidence they are farming a holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35815/20]
View answerThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme is a one-off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the Covid 19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme was open to all beef farmers who presented animals for slaughter in the period 1 February 2020 to 12 June 2020 inclusive and who fulfil the requirements set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. An application for the scheme was submitted by the person named on the 20 August 2020.
Among other requirements the Terms & Conditions of the scheme set out that an eligible applicant must be farming a holding in respect of which a valid Basic Payment Scheme application is submitted in 2020 to the Department prior to the 30 September 2020.
As part of the application process, the application system indicated to the person named that no valid BPS had been received from him to date and it informed him that a BPS application must be submitted by the 30 September 2020. No such application was received and a letter informing the person named of the decision to exclude him from the scheme issued to him on the 31 October. This letter also informed him of his right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
