Vol. 478 No. 4
244 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to earmark a portion of the recently announced revaluation matching fund package to beef farmers who sold or will sell cattle through the marts between 1 April 1997 and 10 June 1997. [11449/97]
The £17 million national compensation package for the beef sector which I announced last week covers male cattle and heifers slaughtered at meat plants or domestic abattoirs between 1 April and 10 June 1997. I regard the top up to the DSP together with the provision for farmers who sell heifers for slaughters as the most straightforward and administratively sound way of allocating the available national funding to those who need it most. These arrangements are subject to the approval of the EU Commission.
There are difficulties associated with including heifers sold through marts in the aid package because of the limited funds available and the unsatisfactory experience of my Department in implementing a similar measure in 1996. It is open to producers who wish to benefit from the aid in respect of heifers intended for slaughter from now until 10 June to sell the animals directly to the meat factory or local abattoir. However, for farmers who prefer to sell their heifers through the marts there is every reason to believe that the proposed rate of aid will be factored into the price paid by dealers or factory agents at the marts.
