Farmers can claim up to €10,000 from the €50m beef aid package, Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary has confirmed.

The COVID-19 compensation scheme is expected to pay €100/hd on all eligible cattle slaughtered during the reference period from 1 February to 12 June this year.

The scheme is open to all animals aged over eight months, including all grades of dairy cows. Applications for the fund can be made from 19 August and the Irish Farmers Journal understands that the payments will issue to farmers in November.

Farmers with finished animals suffered from both reduced prices and other restrictions in getting animals to market

Announcing the scheme, Minister Calleary said he was “fully aware of the difficulties caused by COVID-19 in the Irish beef sector and the consequences for those in beef farming and for the rural economy as a whole. Farmers with finished animals suffered from both reduced prices and other restrictions in getting animals to market”.

IFA president Tim Cullinan welcomed the scheme. He said it is crucial that the money gets out to farmers as soon as possible and that the full €50m is spent. He called for a provision to increase the payment per animal if there is any underspend.