Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1567. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the BEEP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42263/21]
View answerThe objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler (BEEP-S) 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 scheme in 2021 is an annual scheme as was the scheme in 2020 and the pilot in 2019.
Applications for BEEP-S 2021 were made via the Department's online application system at www.agfood.ie. The scheme opened for applications on 16th March 2021 and the closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 26th April 2021. There was a 25 calendar day period after the closing date for the acceptance of late applications.
As with many payment schemes that are applied for on-line and administered by the Department, applicants may lodge the application themselves or alternatively they may authorise an agent to lodge the application on their behalf.
The Department issued two Press Releases on 16th March and 13th April 2021 on the BEEP-S and Dairy Beef schemes for 2021.
In addition, the Department issued five text reminders regarding BEEP-S to those who are registered to receive texts from the Department. The first two texts went to just over 107,000 people on each occasion while the fourth text on 21st April 2021 went to just over 8,000 farmers who were participants in the 2020 BEEP-S but who, as of that date, had not yet applied for BEEP-S 2021.
The person named had not opted to receive texts from the Department and therefore the Department was precluded from sending communications to him by text.
There is no record of any attempt to create or lodge a BEEP-S 2021 application in respect of the named person. The Department received correspondence requesting a review of the non-submission of a BEEP-S application in July 2021 and again in August, 2021. Officials responded to both letters in July and August, 2021 with the August letter advising of the right to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
