The Government is putting the finishing touches to the €50m support package which could be announced by the end of the week, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

It’s understood the minister and his department are reassessing the payment period and the payment rate. It’s likely the aid package will be paid to beef finishers who slaughtered cattle in spring 2020 and who incurred losses due to COVID-19 disruptions to the beef market.

There have been calls for the money to be paid out as quickly as possible so beef finishers have money in accounts for autumn weanling sales.

IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said the IFA met with Minister Calleary and “made it clear that the €50m needs to be targeted at finishers, who need support in the order of €100 per head”.