Vol. 475 No. 7
226 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will arrange to provide grant aid to family butchers throughout the country who wish to upgrade their premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6055/97]
Under the Abattoirs Act, 1988 all abattoirs supplying the domestic market were required to upgrade their premises to the standards laid down in the Abattoirs Act, 1988, (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989. The licensing provision of the Act commenced on 1 September 1989 and provision was made for upgrading to be carried out under a permit system over a five year period in order to alleviate any financial burden on operators. All premises should now be at licensing standard.
Under Council Directive 91/498/EEC financial assistance from the Community is only available for abattoirs complying fully with EU Directive 91/497/EEC which applies to the production and marketing of meat. However, as Directive 91/497 contained modified structural requirements for approval of low-capacity abattoirs serving the domestic market, these premises are not eligible for Community aid. There are no national funds available for grant aiding domestic abattoirs.
