Vol. 467 No. 7
361 Mr. Noonan (Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when EU compensation in respect of beef farmers will be paid; the amount to be paid to each farmer; and the way in which the farmers to receive compensation will be selected. [13999/96]
The level of EU compensation for beef producers for losses arising from the BSE crisis is as follows: increase in suckler cow premium, £22.40 and increase in special beef premium, £19.08.
In addition, a further £13.3 million is available for compensation to be paid Irish beef producers whose income difficulties are not fully addressed by the general increases in the special beef and suckler cow premiums. I intend to use these funds to top-up the deseasonalisation premium in respect of steers slaughtered between 20 March and 8 June and to provide assistance to other categories of producers most severely hit by the crisis. My Department will be finalising the details of these arrangements following discussions with farming organisations over the next few weeks.
The compensation will be paid out as soon as possible but in any event before mid-October.
