Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
482. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied for the BEAM scheme; the number deemed ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42128/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe object of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) is to provide 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 is funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support, provided in light of the difficult circumstances that Irish beef farmers have been facing as a result of market volatility and uncertainty.
Applications for BEAM were accepted from 19 August until 20 September. In total 34,517 applications were recieved with a potential payment of €78,192,380.
A further 560 applicants who did not qualify for the support as they had failed to meet the eligibility criteria laid down in the scheme Terms and Conditions submitted an application under appeal in order to have their eligibility for the scheme reviewed.
Arrangements for the processing of these applications are in place in order to ensure the timely issuing of payments under the measure.
