asked the Minister for Agriculture the action he proposes to take to counter the drop in pig output in 1984.
Ceisteanna - Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Output.
8.
An expansion in pig output depends essentially on the industry being able to make itself more competitive, particularly on export markets. My Department and the other State agencies concerned will give every assistance possible to help to achieve this aim. Capital aids are available from the IDA and FEOGA for investment in plant and equipment provided certain conditions are met and assistance is also available from CTT for market research and development purposes. In addition, every effort is made to secure the maximum utilisation of the market support arrangements available under the EC common pigmeat policy, including export refunds and other support measures. A scheme of aid for private storage of pigmeat was introduced on 6 May 1985.
At producer level advice is provided by ACOT designed to improve pig breeding and management techniques and my Department import pedigree pigs from time to time in order to infuse new blood into the pedigree herd.
Would the Minister not consider that many of the piggeries would require to be reconstructed, updated and improved? Would he not consider a grant aid in the cases where people are finding it difficult at present to erect new buildings and reconstruct and put existing buildings into line with modern standards as far as heating is concerned?
I believe that the IDA have a very definite policy in this regard. They want about ten centralised pig slaughtering units and will give very generous grant aid also to processing facilities connected to those slaughtering units. The slaughtering units at present are in such a terrible condition that new units are very badly needed.
Would the Minister consider the many small producers who went out of pig production, not knowing that there would be a restriction on milk quotas? Would he not consider creating some incentive, such as subsidies per calf heifer, to get the small producers back into sow production?
I continuously point out that one cannot provide national aids. One must have a Community scheme, which does not at present exist and is unlikely to exist because of the very considerable oversupply of pigmeat within the Community.
Is it not possible to consider a pighouse improvement grant? Because of the very rapid improvement in pig production and, particularly, the rapid improvement in the type of housing and facilities — which is a very costly exercise, apart from the cost of the ordinary maintenance — there is a need to introduce a pighouse improvement grant scheme to run parallel with the farm modernisation scheme.
The Deputy has a specific question down about that and we shall be reaching it later on. There are grants under the farm modernisation scheme for that purpose.
This will have to be a final supplementary.
The Minister stated that on 6 May, three days ago, a scheme of aid for private storage of pigmeat was introduced. Could he tell us how much money is available?
Whether people will avail of this scheme remains to be seen. I have asked the same question of what effect it will have. It depends on what the processors will do.
But how much money will be available?
It is EC money, the Deputy need not worry about that. It is a bottomless well.
Could there be some money for the western drainage scheme?
It is for the production of good pigmeat.
If it is a bottomless well, there will be something for everybody.
If one can produce and sell it because it is the right quality.