Minister Michael Creed has said that he expects the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to get the “lion’s share” of the €650 million that would be delivered under Budget 2020 for “vulnerable sectors” in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The €650 million funding will only be used in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with agriculture in line for €110 million of this initially, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on October 31.

The other vulnerable sectors that have been identified – enterprise and tourism – will each receive an allocation of this €650 million as well.

Speaking at a press conference after the announcement of the budget, Minister Creed referred to this €110 million as the “first tranche”, and added that he expects his department to receive a majority of the remainder of the €650 million, given the exposure of the sector to a no-deal Brexit.

The minister also confirmed that the Beef Environmental Exposure Pilot (BEEP) scheme would have its funding doubled next year, from €20 million to €40 million.

The current cycle of the BEEP scheme – its first since its introduction in February – is approaching its end.

Farmers have until November 1 to submit weight data on pairings of cows and unweaned calves. Payments under the scheme are scheduled to be made throughout the month of December.

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BUDGET 2020