213. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers due a balancing payment on the suckler carbon efficiency program; when his Department will make these payments;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30029/24]

The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.

Balancing payments for some 8,000 SCEP participants totalling circa €4.9m were processed by my Department in recent days and payments have commenced from Monday 08 July 2024.