asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if in view of the fact that small farmers in the Sneem and Tuosist areas of County Kerry were not notified until recently that their applications submitted in November last for renewal of permits for their bulls were unsuccessful, if the licences will now be renewed having regard to the fact that those farmers cannot now afford to buy replacement pure-bred bulls, because of their high price at this time of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Kerry Unregistered Bulls Permits.
63.
The Control of Bulls for Breeding (Permits) Regulations 1986 provide for the issue of permits to keep approved unregistered bulls in small herds of not more than 20 cows or breeding heifers and not producing milk for sale. The application forms for such permits clearly set out these requirements. On processing of the applications a number of herdowners were found to have understated their herd sizes and were not therefore eligible for consideration for permits under the regulations. There are no grounds for reconsidering these applications.
There is no evidence to suggest that the price of pure-bred bulls has increased during the spring.