Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 3

Written Answers. - Meat Plant Inspection Deficit.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

36 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the deficit incurred by his Department on the moneys expended on the inspection of meat plants; the plans, if any, he has to implement the Comptroller and Auditor General's demand that all such moneys be recouped by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Staff employed by my Department in the meat inspection service perform the dual functions of meat inspection and the implementation of controls on market support activities, disease eradication and premium schemes at meat plants. It has not been possible to isolate the costs attributable to each of these areas of work and it is difficult to quantify precisely the difference between the cost of the veterinary inspection service and the revenue recouped by way of veterinary inspection fees. However, it is estimated that the present level of recoupment covers approximately 60 per cent of the cost of the inspection service.

New charges for overtime and for cutting of meat were introduced in 1992 in order to recover a greater proportion of the cost of the meat inspection service. The meat processors contested the legality of these charges in the High Court, thereby preventing my Department from collecting them. In December last the High Court ruled in favour of my Department and, as a result of this judgment, I have recently put proposals to the meat industry with a view to increasing the revenue from meat inspection fees this year. These proposals include the employment of independent consultants to examine the efficiency of the meat inspection service with a view to reducing its cost and to isolate the costs attributable to staff employed on meat inspection activities. I will be taking further decisions on the appropriate level of inspection fees in light of the report of the consultants.