Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
618. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Beef Data and Genomics Programme has been extended for another year going into 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62484/21]
View answerAt the outset, I want to reassure the Deputy of my long-term commitment to the beef and suckler sectors. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides for six years of payments to participating farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
In October 2021, I announced a further one year extension of contracts of BDGP participants in the 2021 transitional programme. This extension for 2022 allows those BDGP participants who were in the 2021 BDGP transitional scheme to have another year in the scheme with the majority of obligations remaining unchanged.
Since the application period to extend contracts opened to participants and agricultural advisors on the 18th November 2021, just over 15,000 of the 17,704 eligible participants have already replied with the majority opting to extend for a further one year. The closing date for receipt of valid applications is 5.00pm on Monday 20th December 2021.
