The average Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) reference number is 25, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said.

As of June 2026, there is a total of 15,847 eligible participants in SCEP, and the average max payable area is 16.89 hectares, Department of Agriculture figures show.

The minister said that multiplying the max payable area by 1.5 gives the average SCEP reference number of 25 suckler cows.

Under SCEP, payments are made on a per hectare basis subject to a maximum payment, calculated using the number of eligible suckler cows producing an eligible calf on the holding.

The programme reference number must have been set by an applicant at the beginning of the programme.

Minister Heydon was responding to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny who asked for a breakdown of the number of farmers and herd/flock sizes under farm schemes.

Sheep schemes

The minister provided figures for the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) and the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS).

As of June 2026, there are 17,895 participants in the SIS with an average flock size of 114.

There are 17,380 participants in the NSWS with an average flock size of 110.

"The 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme has not yet opened so the figures for the 2025 scheme are as follows: 24,525 applications were received and the average number of calves applied for was 19," Minister Heydon added.