Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3416. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the beef finisher payment appeal application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40612/21]
View answerThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme was an exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the COVID-19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP was to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the pandemic. Payment was based on the number of cattle sent for slaughter in the period from 1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020 inclusive with applications accepted from the 19th August 2020 to the 9th September 2020.
The named applicant submitted an application on line on 26th August, 2020 for the BFP scheme. The number of animals eligible (subject to adherence to the terms and conditions) is populated automatically at the time from verification of the Departments animal movement system. In this case, four animals populated as being eligible. The applicant received payment for these four animals on 18th November, 2020. The applicant submitted a request on 26th August 2020 as well to check 14 more animals he had slaughtered on 15th June 2020. This was reviewed and as the animals were slaughtered outside the reference period (1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020) he was notified by letter on 12th October, 2020, that he was unsuccessful. He was informed that he had the option to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO)
On the 15th December 2020, the Department received a request for the file from the AAO. The Department received notification from the AAO of an unsuccessful appeal in this case on 9th April, 2021 due to not meeting requirements to slaughter animals between the dates 1st February to 12th June 2020 inclusive.
