Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
904. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a BEAM scheme will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36099/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland. The granting of the aid was subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132.
Just over 33,000 participants, including the person named, joined the scheme and, in doing so, gave a commitment to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on the holding by 5% for the period 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021, compared with the reference period of 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019 as recorded on the Department's AIM system.
In light of the difficulties some farmers were experiencing in meeting this reduction arising from COVID-19 Government Public Health restrictions, I secured a new reduction. From 19th March 2021, BEAM participants were able to select the alternative reduction period of 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 over which to meet their 5% reduction. This facility remained open until 21st June 2021 and some 16,000 BEAM participants opted for the deferred reduction period.
The person named applied to defer the reduction period and therefore his reduction period was 1st January 2021 - 31st December 2021. Following the end of that reduction period, my Department undertook a series of administrative and compliance checks to ensure that the commitments farmers had entered into under the BEAM Terms and Conditions had been met.
In the case of the person named, the commitment to reduce the bovine livestock manure nitrogen by 5% was not met and, as a result, all BEAM payments made to him were to be recouped.
The person named was informed of this decision by letter, which also advised him of his right to request a review of the decision if he so wished. To date, no such request has been made.
