asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state in relation to the foot-and-mouth epidemic (a) the total number of outbreaks in each of the counties affected; (b) the aggregate number respectively of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered on infected farms or premises in each county; (c) the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in each county other than on infected farms or premises; (d) the total amount paid in compensation for all animals slaughtered; (e) the cost to the State of all staffs, including-veterinary officers, members of Local Defence Force, etc., engaged in combating the disease; (f) the cost of disinfectant and other materials used; (g) the estimated gross loss to the State resulting from the epidemic (to include loss on export of stock ready for market during period of epidemic); (h) the estimated increase in our live-stock population resulting from reduction in market facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot-and-Mouth Epidemic.
I am giving the Deputy all available information in the form of a tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
(a) The total number of outbreaks in each of the counties concerned, and
(b) The numbers of animals slaughtered in the same counties were as follows:—
|
COUNTY |
Number of Outbreaks |
TOTAL ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED |
||||
|
Cattle |
Sheep |
Goats |
Swine |
|||
|
Donegal |
16 |
577 |
257 |
14 |
26 |
|
|
Dublin |
142 |
5,754 |
930 |
34 |
603 |
|
|
Kildare |
23 |
1,407 |
743 |
16 |
18 |
|
|
Meath |
15 |
1,293 |
1,021 |
7 |
108 |
|
|
Limerick |
8 |
250 |
— |
6 |
71 |
|
|
Offaly |
21 |
606 |
395 |
10 |
106 |
|
|
Clare |
2 |
42 |
— |
— |
2 |
|
|
Wicklow |
3 |
88 |
30 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
Kerry |
3 |
62 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
|
|
Tipperary |
103 |
5,098 |
940 |
124 |
455 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
155 |
7,900 |
2,334 |
210 |
1,041 |
|
|
Carlow |
49 |
3,903 |
2,790 |
160 |
654 |
|
|
Laoighis |
16 |
915 |
355 |
14 |
104 |
|
|
TOTALS |
556 |
27,895 |
9,797 |
608 |
3,201 |
TOTAL41,501 |
(c) Separate figures are not at present available as to the number of animals slaughtered other than on infected premises.
(d) The total liabilities as far as can be foreseen in respect of compensation for all animals slaughtered is £451,021.
(e) The cost of staff, including veterinary officers, members of Local Defence Force, etc., engaged in combating the disease is approximately £130,000.
(f) The cost of disinfectants and other equipment used is approximately £3,200.
(g) It is quite impossible to arrive at any reliable estimate in this matter.
(h) The statistical returns as at 1st June last showed an increase of 155,700 cattle in the country.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the number of cases in each county where compensation or part compensation has been withheld by him from stock owners who were considered by his Department negligent in notifying foot-and-mouth disease; (b) the basis on which such withheld compensation was assessed, and if, in order to ensure that no injustice has been done, he is prepared to review all such cases.
The number of cases in each county where part compensation has been withheld from stock owners who were considered as negligent in notifying foot-and-mouth disease with all practicable speed, are as follows:— Carlow, 3; Donegal, 3; Dublin, 2; Kildare, 2; Kilkenny, 5; Laoighis, 1; Meath, 1; Offaly, 3; Tipperary, 1.
The amount of the compensation withheld in each of these cases was based on the value of the diseased animals, and as I am satisfied that no injustice has been done in any of the cases in question, I am not prepared to review such cases.
Am I to take it that the full value of the diseased animals was withheld in every case?
No; in no case was the full value withheld.
Could the Minister give us any idea as to the percentage?
It varied from 10 to 75 per cent.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the grave losses suffered by large numbers of farmers, in areas where foot-and-mouth disease was prevalent over a lengthy period has brought about their economic ruin and left them without hope of economic recovery; and, if so, if he will take steps to have compensation provided to meet those losses.
Full compensation has been paid to owners in respect of all animals slaughtered, except in the case of certain owners who flagrantly neglected to report promptly the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in their stock. I cannot agree that large numbers of farmers are economically ruined. In point of fact, a very large number of holdings on which outbreaks of disease occurred have already been re-stocked wholly or partially by the owners, and permission has been given to re-stock the remaining holdings, excepting those on which recent outbreaks occurred.
Is the Minister not aware that a number—it may be only a small number like 15 or 20 per cent. —are economically ruined? Has he got that information from the creameries or from some other source? Does he not agree that in places where no milk went to the creamery and no tillage operations were carried on for two or three months, something ought to be done for farmers in such areas? If he inquires from the creamery societies, he will find that the position is as I stated it.
The results of my inquiries do not agree with that.
Could the Minister offhand give us information as to the individual in Tipperary and the amount of money withheld from him?
Not unless a special question were put to me. I have not got the information here.