Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
678. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans regarding the 5% reduction in stock for the beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, scheme in view of the fact that many farmers were unable to sell stock due to Covid-19 restrictions, including travel restrictions, and lockdowns and many farmers were unable to sell stock online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2212/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 the Covid-19 market disturbance.
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.
Obligations under the measure were developed based on analysis of the herd profile and nitrates profile of the national herd. It was designed, in consultation with farmer representative organisations, to make the measure as easy to participate in as possible, whilst maintaining the requirement under the implementing regulation for temporary market adjustments.
Since 2019, 33,445 farmers have received some €77.72M as part of the scheme.
