Noel Dempsey
Question:826 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the cost to the Exchequer up to June 1996 of the current BSE crisis. [14979/96]
Written Answers. - Cost of BSE Crisis.
The direct costs to the Exchequer to date as a result of the BSE crisis, have been related to Border controls and to the provision of financial assistance to the rendering industry. Given the initial effects of the crisis on the rendering industry, temporary financial assistance of £2.5 million was provided to subsidise storage costs for meat and bonemeal up to 21 May to provide time to finalise the commercial arrangements for the collection, treatment and disposal of offal. The cost of the Border controls mounted to ensure that the export prohibition of 27 March banning all UK beef exports is effective is about £350,000 per week and to date amounts to about £6 million. This operation is implemented primarily by the Garda, backed up by the Customs Service and my Department. As the Deputy is aware the EU is providing £70 million to compensate beef producers for losses due to the crisis. Payments of this aid will commence in September.