Vol. 406 No. 7
104 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the estimated number of abattoirs currently in use in Ireland; if he will outline his views in regard to the ideal number of such premises; if, in view of EC regulations, he will outline any grant assistance or proposals for grant assistance to enable owners of existing abattoirs to comply with all necessary regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The estimated number of abattoirs supplying the domestic market is 683. There are in addition 29 abattoirs licensed for export.
As total slaughtering capacity, export and domestic combined, exceeds the national kill the current policy having regard to the optimum use of public funds, is to direct support to projects which are oriented towards value-added processing which would create employment and enhance the value of exports. Grant aid is not, therefore, available to abattoir owners supplying the domestic meat market. The Abattoirs Act, 1988, provides for any ungrading of domestic abattoirs to be carried out gradually, if necessary over a five-year period.
