Minister Heydon confirms commencement of €5.98 million in payments under the CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme
- Foilsithe: 23 Feabhra 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 23 Feabhra 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today advised that payments for scheme year two of the CAP Strategic Plan Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme have commenced. In total, over €5.98 million has commenced issuing to some 9,175 participating farmers, supporting 299,839 dairy beef calves. This payment represents a 17.4% increase in the number of calves supported in scheme year one.
The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme provides support to dairy farmers to improve the animal health and welfare of the national dairy herd by using better genetic merit beef sires. This is the second year of the scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan with payments issuing in respect of eligible calves born on applicants’ holdings between 01 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
Minister Heydon commented:
“The issuing of payments under the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme supports both dairy and beef farmers who recognise the benefits from the greater integration of the beef and dairy herds that this scheme supports.”
“The Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme will reopen for applications in April 2026 for new applicants, but farmers who applied in 2024 or 2025 do not need to reapply as their participation in the scheme will automatically continue.”
Payment of €20 per eligible calf (up to a maximum of 50 calves per applicant herd) will be made to eligible participants. These payments will be visible in farmers bank accounts in the coming days.
Farmers wishing to contact the Department regarding their Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme payments can ring the Direct Payments Helpline at 057 8674422 or email dairybeef@agriculture.gov.ie.
Notes to Editor
CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme - County Breakdown Payments for Scheme Year two (February 2026)