Michael Ahern
Question:27 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will review the grant-aid available to local abattoirs which are required to upgrade their premises under EU Directive 64/433. [3428/95]
Written Answers. - Abattoirs' Subsidisation.
The food sub-programme of the operational programme for industrial development approved by the EU contains a provision for assisting the upgrading of slaughtering and processing facilities to the standard prescribed by the relevant EU Directive.
Because Ireland has a surplus slaughtering capacity, this grant-aid is being made available as an exceptional measure to those abattoirs which, because they are slaughtering in excess of 1,000 livestock units annually, must comply with EU standards for large establishments before 1 January, 1996. Aid is limited to projects which do not lead to an increase in slaughter capacity and to works necessary to raise standards from those prescribed in the Abattoirs Act, for small establishments, to the standards for large establishments as required under the EU Directive.
The estimated cost of providing the additional facilities required by the EU Directive to bridge the gap between the two standards is estimated at £300,000. Accordingly, the maximum eligible expenditure has been fixed at that level.
Funds are limited under the operational programme, I am not in a position to increase the level of grant available without reducing the number of abattoirs which may be grant-aided.