Wednesday, 14 Jul 2021

Departmental Data

Questions (450)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

450. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hours per day and the number of days per week in which his officials are present in each airport and port within the State in tabular form. [38260/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine maintains a permanent presence at ports and airports that are designated as border control posts. As well as fulfilling Ireland's responsibilities in terms of import controls into the European Union, these staff are involved in pet checks, exports of live animals, checks on personal consignments of imported plants and food, and checks on the disposal of catering waste. There are four border control posts (BCPs) currently designated in Ireland. These are located at Dublin Airport; Dublin Port; Rosslare Port and Shannon Airport. The hours of operation of these border control posts are as follows

Port or Airport	DAFM officials are present:
Dublin Port	Monday to Sunday 24 hours
Rosslare Port	Monday to Sunday 04:00-22:00
Shannon Airport	Monday to Saturday 06:00-18:00 Sunday 08:00-16:00
Dublin Airport Terminals	Monday to Sunday 07:30-21:00
Dublin Airport BCP	Monday to Friday 09:00-17:45

In addition to permanent presence at ports and airports that have BCPs, Department staff attend at other ports and airports, as the need arises.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (451)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

451. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the appointment of the independent chair and farmer nominee to the agriculture appeals panel will occur (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38336/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A Review of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and operations at the Agriculture Appeals Office was completed in December 2017. The Review Committee included a recommendation that, where an appellant is not satisfied with the decision of an appeals officer, he or she can seek a review of that decision from an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel. The Review Committee recommended the panel consist of an independent chairperson, the director of the Agriculture Appeals Office and additional members with technical and practical expertise.

The recommendation for an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel is a key priority for the current Government. Indeed, the Programme for Government; Our Shared Future (2020) includes a commitment to “establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation, as a priority, and ensure that the panel includes participants with practical knowledge and experience of farming”.

This and other recommendations contained in the Review will require a change to primary legislation prior to implementation. Work is ongoing to implement this and other recommendations contained in the review report and I have recently met with both the Director and Deputy Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office in this regard.

Recommendations contained in the Review Report that have already been put in place include the appointment of the Deputy Director, bespoke legal training for Appeals Officers, engagement with the farm bodies involved in the Farmer’s Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee and the holding of remote oral hearings.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (452)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

452. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of CAP funding received by Irish farmers between 2010 and 2020 by year; and the projected level of CAP funding to be received by Irish farmers between 2021 to 2025 by year. [38341/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

CAP payments (Pillar 1 & 2) * to Irish beneficiaries, the majority of which are farmers, for the period 2010 – 2020 were as follows:

Table

Projected level of CAP funding to Irish farmers for the period 2021 - 2025

In relation to the new programme period 2021 – 2027, approx. €1.186 billion has been allocated to EAGF Direct Payments annually or €8.3 billion in total.

€2.3 billion has been allocated by the EU to Ireland for the EAFRD programme 2021 - 2027, with an additional €190m EURI funds. The exchequer co-funding for the EAFRD programme is subject to discussions with DPER and the annual budgetary process.

Fishing Industry

Questions (453)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

453. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has requested increased fishing quotas and rights for Irish fishermen in Irish waters from the European Commission. [38342/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I can assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, and this Government continue to keep the focus on the disproportionate quota reductions for Ireland and to use any opportunity available to seek constructive solutions that would help to alleviate this unacceptable position.

I am pursuing every opportunity at EU level to increase the available quotas for our fishing fleet. I have raised the matter of inequitable burden sharing at EU level – most recently at last month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council – and in bilateral exchanges with the Commissioner and other EU Member States, whenever suitable opportunities arise, and I will continue to do so.

The Interim Report of the Seafood Sector Taskforce, published earlier last month and supported by all members of the Taskforce, recommends a range of actions to address the quota reductions in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

The actions include measures relating to Ireland working with other EU Member States on possible opportunities for increased quota shares for the EU in the upcoming Coastal States consultations and pursuing the rebalancing of quota in the context of the upcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The Interim Report indicates that the recommended actions, after further consideration by the Taskforce, will be set down in detail in the main Report. The report will set out the specific challenges arising and how the actions may be progressed.

The next CFP review as set down in EU Regulation 1380/2013 is due to be completed by the 31st December 2022 when the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP. At the informal meeting of Fisheries Ministers under the Portuguese Presidency, there was a first exchange of views on the future direction of the CFP and its current operation. I made clear that the CFP review must take stock of the disproportionate impacts imposed on the Irish fishing industry by Brexit and the TCA. I made clear that I will be seeking to address the imbalance in the quota transfers under the TCA. I repeated this position at the formal debate at the EU Fisheries Council in June.

The Commission published a proposal on 6th July proposing an amendment to extend the derogation for access to EU Member States 12 miles zones up until the end of December 2032. It also removed the provisions relating to access for the UK, which are now covered in the TCA. I consider that this important element of the CFP should be dealt with by the Commission as part of the full CFP review and form part of the formal review and the Commission report to Council and Parliament on the functioning of the CFP. I will be making our concern and our position clear as the proposal is progressed through Council and Parliament over the autumn.

It is expected that all stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage actively in the Commission's review over the coming period, including the fishing industry, eNGOs and Member States. I will consider how Ireland will prepare for and participate actively and effectively in the review of the CFP, including the interaction with stakeholders, to prepare Ireland's case and identify priorities.

Fishing Industry

Questions (454)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

454. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures the Government has undertaken to oppose or reverse the European Commission decision to revoke approval of Ireland's weighing control plan. [38343/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I should state at the outset that the strict legal position in relation to the revocation of Ireland’s control plan is that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as this.

In the context of an Administrative Inquiry conducted under Article 102(2) of the 2009 EU Fisheries Control Regulation, Ireland was notified in April 2021 of a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products.

It should be noted that the 2012 Control Plan, prior to its revocation, provided that the Irish authorities may have permitted fisheries products to be weighed by relevant operators after transport from the place of landing provided that they were transported to a destination on the territory of Ireland, as the Member State concerned.

The SFPA has advised me that, following a public consultation on a revised Control Plan for submission to the EU Commission, the Authority has decided that the plan will cover all landings, including bulk pelagic landings. The Authority advise that it is prioritising the development of this revised plan to ensure that it addresses the specific risks that have already been identified and led to the Commission’s decision to revoke the previous plan and provides enhanced controls in that regard. The SFPA has advised that this work is likely to take a number of months before a submission is made to the Commission.

Fishing Industry

Questions (455)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

455. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that have been taken to implement the recommendations of the seafood taskforce in its interim report published in June 2021. [38344/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In March 2021, I established a Seafood Sector Task Force to examine the negative impacts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the UK on Ireland's fishing fleet and on related coastal communities and to recommend mitigation measures that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring in order to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.

On 9th June, I received an Interim Report of the Task Force, with the Final report due later this year. The Interim Report recommends the implementation, on a voluntary basis, of a temporary fleet tie-up scheme for certain segments of the fishing fleet, to mitigate the loss of income in 2021 for these fleets arising from the TCA quota reductions. Eligible vessels would be able to cease fishing for one calendar month only over the period September to December 2021 and receive compensation based on average monthly income in the pre-Covid, pre-Brexit years 2018/19, minus variable costs they will not incur while tied-up (fuel and food). The Interim Report recommends that this scheme be funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. A State Aid approval from the European Commission is also required.

I welcome the recommendation of the Task Force on the proposed scheme and it is being considered as a matter of urgency.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (456)

Question:

461. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land in organic production or in conversion by year since 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38469/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The table below details the amount of land declared as organic or in conversion for the period 2016 to 2020. There is a slight reduction in the area farmed organically in 2020 due to some participants not continuing in the scheme and therefore ceasing their conversion.

A total of 317 applications were received under the 2021 Organic Farming Scheme. As the Basic Payment Scheme applications have not yet been finalised, the organic area in respect of 2021 is not yet available. I believe that the additional funding of €4 million provided for this new Scheme will facilitate the entry of all eligible applicants into the organic farming system.

Based on the average size of organic farms, I believe there will be in the region of an additional 16,000 hectares brought into the Scheme in respect of these applications. This will equate to an increase of over 20% in the area of land farmed organically in 2021.

Year	Land classified as organic or as organic in conversion
2016	60,500 ha
2017	68,527 ha
2018	66,745 ha
2019	76,141 ha
2020	73,178 ha

Organic Farming

Questions (462)

Matt Carthy

Question:

462. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targets he has set with regard to organic farming; the progress that has been made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38470/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department will continue to implement the actions set out in the National Organic Strategy for the development of the Organic Food Sector for the period up to 2025. The implementation of the actions detailed in the Strategy is regarded as a priority and critical to the further development of the organic sector in Ireland.

The current Programme for Government has set a new target for organic farming, to meet changing consumer trends in this area. While the EU Commission’s objective of reaching at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming by 2030 is highly ambitious, there is a commitment to align Ireland’s organic land area with that of the current EU average of approximately 7.5% over the lifetime of this Government. The Programme aims to focus on developing domestic and international organic markets, to ensure that farmers have access to premium-paying markets for their produce.

The Programme for Government also focuses particularly on maximising potential opportunities in the organic sector, the supply of quality Irish grains to an expanding food and drinks industry, and opportunities for home-grown proteins in animal feeds.

The Department is continuing to develop the CAP Strategic Plan in consultation with stakeholders through the CAP Consultative Committee and other forums. Consideration is currently being given to the measures that will be supported under the new CAP Strategic Plan, and stakeholders will be further consulted on this shortly. These measures will ensure we have the tools to build on the success to date of the organic farming sector, which will assist in achieving our targets.

A total of 317 applications were received under the 2021 Organic Farming Scheme. Based on the average size of organic farms, I believe there will result in an additional 16,000 hectares brought into the Scheme in respect of these applications. This will equate to an increase of over 20% in the area of land farmed organically in 2021. Subject to funding being available after this year's budget, I am also hopeful of reopening the scheme for 2022.

Organic Farming

Questions (463)

Matt Carthy

Question:

463. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the organic farming scheme; the average payment and average holding size by county in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38471/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when available.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (464)

Matt Carthy

Question:

464. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated costs of providing 1,000, 2,000, 2,500 and 5,000 spaces in the results-based environment agri pilot programme. [38472/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Results-Based Environmental Agri Pilot (REAP) project is a pilot project, developed on foot of commitment in the Programme for Government to reward farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming. The purpose of the pilot is to contribute to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. The pilot project is designed to test the results-based approach on a variety of farm types and will feed into the development of the next national agri-environment scheme which is currently being developed under the new Common Agricultural Policy.

As a pilot initiative, it was initially intended to limit it to 2,000 participants in line with similar projects. However, the intake number for the project was increased following engagement with the EU Commission. Approvals were subsequently issued to 4,926 farmers for support to undertake environmental commitments to increase the environmental value of their farm features.

The below table provides estimated figures for the project based on average payment rates. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of factors will affect the level of payment a participant will receive, such as the size of the fields entered, the scorecard selected, any complementary actions selected along with the score allocated to the holding.

Number	Estimated Cost Per Annum
1,000	€3,900,000
2,000	€7,700,000
2,500	€9,700,000
5,000	€19,300,000

Departmental Strategies

Questions (465)

Holly Cairns

Question:

465. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 16 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38473/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed under its Strategy 2021 – 2024, to maintain and develop strategic, operational, regulatory and technical capacity and capability to deliver excellent services to our customers.

The vision, stated in the Information and Management Technology (IMT) Strategy 2021–2024, is to maximise opportunities for technology adoption and innovation with a focus on delivering customer centric services through digitalisation, with the policy and legislative drivers being the Programme for Government and National & EU Regulations. Services provided are built with accessibility and universal design principles in all areas where possible, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

The Department's website is hosted on Gov.ie which is committed to achieving AA standard under WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (466)

Holly Cairns

Question:

466. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38503/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to the protection of human rights and the promotion of equality for its employees, customers, external stakeholders and interested parties. Our latest Statement of Strategy (2021-2024) sets out as a core value “A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and the fair and equal treatment of all”, this applies both internally and externally.

The Department aims to ensure that the needs of all its customers, including people with disabilities are met and that the rights of equal treatment are upheld in the delivery of services. In accordance with Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005, two Access Officers are appointed who are responsible for providing or arranging for, assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities accessing services provided by the Department, when requested, and generally to act as a point of contact for people wishing to access such services.

In addition to the Access Officers, Department officials are available in all regions to provide assistance to applicants who have questions or concerns on any scheme operated by the Department. We have an Accessibility officer to facilitate contact with the Department and take suitable measures as necessary. For instance, the Department commissioned a digital recording of all our schemes and services to assist a customer with reading difficulties and supplied documents in Braille to assist a visually impaired customer.

We frequently engage with the National Disability Authority regarding policies relevant to persons with disabilities.

The Department is represented on a range on interdepartmental committees of relevance to the representation of people with disabilities. These include:

- Working Group on the development of a Well-being Framework for Ireland

- Oireachtas Disability Group

- Interdepartmental Committee on Human Rights

- Interdepartmental Committee on access to services by ‘off-line’ citizens

The recent move of the Department’s website to the www.gov.ie portal enabled the redesign of this platform to comply with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and National Disability Authority (NDA) guidelines. This includes ensuring that content on the website is at a suitable reading comprehension level.

As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of the Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Animal Welfare

Questions (467)

Matt Carthy

Question:

467. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to animal welfare in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38529/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine devotes significant resources to the area of animal welfare. The table below shows a detailed breakdown of funding provided from 2016-2020 across a number of measures.

As you are aware, each year I provide funding to registered animal welfare charities to support them in their activities. In December 2020, I announced record funding of €3.2 million to these bodies, and overall funding for the period 2016 – 2020 d amounts to €13.877 million. The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to increase the funding available to animal welfare organisations over the coming years in line with policy priorities outlined in Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025; I am fully committed to this undertaking.

Also included in the PFG is a commitment to provide for additional urban horse welfare programmes. The Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, providing infrastructure and bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. In this regard, since 2016, funding of €1.418 million has been provided for a number of projects nationwide. Department officials work with and support local authorities and NGOs in progressing urban projects and there are currently projects at every stage from the initial feasibility and planning stages to the operating stage around the country. Separately, I awarded a tender to a provider of an education course for sulky users with a view to encouraging them off the public roads and on to regulated tracks. A number of courses took place in Dublin, Cork and Tipperary in 2018 and 2019 with expenditure amounting to €95,791. There is further scope to continue this initiative in 2021.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Agriculture Appeals Office was established in 2002 pursuant to the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001, Schedule 1 to the Act includes a list of schemes administered by the Department. The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.

Farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions of the Department concerning their entitlement under the schemes listed in Schedule 1 of the Act may submit an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

I have been advised that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate the following:

Year	No of Appeals received	No of Appeals Closed	No of Appeals Allowed / Partially Allowed / Revised by the Department
2016	598	615	253
2017	638	707	261
2018	556	520	202
2019	570	491	214
2020	760	358	139

The appeals closed figure for each year includes appeals that were received in the previous years. Attached is a more detailed breakdown of appeals received per year for each scheme and figures for appeals allowed and partially allowed by Appeals Officers, as well as those revised by the Department for each year from 2016 to 2020.

Revised by the Department includes cases where the Department has revised its original decision in favour of the appellant prior to completion of the appeals process, reasons may include additional information provided by the appellant to the Agriculture Appeals Office, information provided at oral hearings and/or as a result of specific queries raised by the Appeals Office.

Table

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (471)

Matt Carthy

Question:

471. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a participant in the BEAM scheme who had chosen to defer met the 5% within the initial reference period if the deferral can be reversed or put aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38537/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall in light of market disturbance.

As the Deputy will be aware, one of the conditions under which the €50 million was granted by the EU was that there had to be an element of reduction or re-structuring built in to the scheme. Accordingly, in applying for BEAM, participants agreed to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on their holding by 5% for the period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 as compared with the period 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019.

Following engagement with the EU Commission regarding flexibility around the deadline for meeting the 5% reduction, I introduced an option on Agfood.ie on 19th March 2021 to choose an alternative reduction period of 1st January 2021 - 31st December 2021. The option to select this facility remained open until midnight on 21st June 2021.

If a BEAM participant who opted to defer subsequently meets the 5% bovine Nitrates reduction within the original reduction period (1 July 2020 - 30 June 2021), the Department will write to these participants advising them that they are being removed from the deferment period (1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021) assuming they have met all the other requirements of the BEAM as set out in section 7 of the BEAM Terms and Conditions.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (472)

Matt Carthy

Question:

472. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to the Longtown Farm and laboratory network facilities in Backweston, Cork, Sligo, Athlone, Kilkenny and Limerick in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38538/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The budgetary allocations for the Department's Laboratory facilities and Longtown Farm in 2018 was €12.362m.

A tabular breakdown of these allocations is as follows

Location	Amount
Longtown Farm	€450,000
Backweston - Central Laboratories	€10,498,000
Cork Regional Veterinary & Blood Testing Laboratories	€458,000
Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory	€300,000
Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory	€266,000
Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory	€223,000
Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory	€167,000

Animal Welfare

Questions (473)

Matt Carthy

Question:

473. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the staff IT and developer costs accrued in 2018 in relation to the animal health computer system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Animal Health Computer System (AHCS) is the primary computer system supporting the Department in managing the disease testing programmes for Tuberculosis (TB), Brucellosis (BR), Bovine Viral Disease (BVD) in cattle and Aujeskey’s disease in pigs.

In total, this system recorded the results of over eight million tests in 2018 and has significantly contributed to administrative efficiencies in the operation of the TB programme and the attainment of Brucellosis-free status. The system manages certain required checks by importing countries to support exports of beef in particular markets. It also supports the Departments’ services to manage major disease outbreaks e.g., Foot and Mouth Disease. Approximately 1,200 Department staff and 1,000 Private Veterinary Practitioners use this system daily.

The costs associated with supporting and managing this critical system in 2018 were –

IT Development and maintenance Costs - €1,259,086.

Staff (IT and Business Coordination) - €584,624

ICT infrastructure and security costs are centrally managed across the full portfolio of computer systems by the ICT Infrastructure Division in the Department. Costs for individual systems are not provided.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (474)

Matt Carthy

Question:

474. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to and drawn down under the beef data genomics programme 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides Irish beef farmers with up to €300 million in funding over the course of the Rural Development Programme (RDP). BDGP I ran from 2015 to 31 December 2020 with a second tranche, BDGP II commencing in 2017 and which will run until 31 December 2022.

In 2019, €43,402,000 was paid out of a total allocation of €46,487,000.

In 2020, €41,687,000 was paid out of total allocation of €44,487,000.

The budget for 2021 included over €40 million for the extension of BDGP I during the 2021 transition year.