Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
961. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full year cost of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme and the national beef welfare scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14141/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to support farmers in improving the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd by incentivising participants to undertake five mandatory actions. It consolidates and builds on the improvements in the genetic merit of the suckler herd achieved in recent years through actions implemented in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme.
The SCEP, which runs from 2023 to 2027, has an EU co-funded budget of €256 million over its duration which equates to €51.2 million allocation for each year of the programme. The latest data published my department indicates that total payments amounting to €51.54 million have issued to date to over 16,800 eligible participants for year one of the programme.
Updated summary payment data in respect of all DAFM schemes is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ceea9-scheme-payments-update/
My Department is currently working on the design of measures for a new exchequer-funded beef welfare scheme which will operate in 2024 and will be worth €20m to eligible beef farmers. Once the terms and conditions are finalised having regard to EU state aid rules for such supports, I will be able to announce further scheme details when it opens later this year. The national scheme will complement the SCEP and there will be no impediment to farmers participating in both schemes.
The drawdown of the budget allocations for the SCEP and the new national scheme will depend on the number of participants in both schemes who correctly complete the required actions in accordance with the terms and conditions governing payments for these schemes.
However, the funding I secured in Budget 2024 will allow me to continue the €200 per cow delivered for suckler farmers last year. These dedicated supports for the beef sector demonstrate the importance I attach to the viability and sustainability of our beef production systems.
