I understand the beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, scheme is undersubscribed. This scheme needs to be reopened and redefined in terms of eligibility. Many suckler farmers cannot participate in this scheme because one of the criteria is that they must reduce the size of their herd. The average suckler herd farmer in Ireland has approximately 18 cows, with most of those living in and around where I live having only ten or 12 cows. To be eligible for the scheme, these farmers would have to reduce their herd which, in turn, would reduce their income. This disadvantages the smaller farmer. There are also issues arising in regard to the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS. There are many farmers who, when their contracts under this scheme ended, could not access the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS. These farmers are now outside of both schemes and they are precluded from entering into the BEAM scheme. The Minister needs to reopen the scheme, change the criteria, reduce the onerous conditions attached to it and ensure that farmers, particularly suckler farmers, have equal access to it.

To add to what Deputy Martin Kenny said, many farmers did not apply for the BEAM scheme because they were not in an environmental scheme. The Minister needs to reopen GLAS to allow these farmers access to it because many of them are losing out on income as a result of not being in it. As stated by Deputy Kenny, they were also precluded from entering the BEAM scheme if they did not meet some of the other criteria as well. There have been problems with this scheme. Following the local elections, it became clear that there was going to be a 5% stock reduction requirement and that take-up has not been what it should be. I would appreciate it were the Minister, Deputy Creed, to update the House on how much of the €100 million has been used in respect of applications to date. Will he give an assurance that the Government will now seek a fund from Europe to cover the period from May until now, when losses were heavier than the reference covered under the BEAM scheme, which was September to May?

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. The beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, was approved by the European Commission. Like all measures under the Common Market organisation, CMO, regulation, it comes with specific terms and conditions. We were faced with a requirement at EU level to have a supply reduction element attached to the terms of the scheme. We felt it was best to approach this by way of a reduction in organic nitrates rather than, as portrayed by the Deputies, a simple head count reduction. This allowed for on-farm individualised management of organic nitrates rather than a head count reduction, which, I think, is the most efficient way for farms to benefit under the scheme without being obliged to reduce their herd size. For example, they can manage this by way of selling stock earlier or buying in stock later in order that their organic nitrates load matches the required reduction of 5% over the referred period.

With regard to the requirement that applicants be in an environmental scheme, the criterion is participation in an environmental scheme or a quality assurance scheme. Bord Bia has confirmed that it will accept participation in any quality assurance scheme to enable people to be eligible under the terms of the scheme.