Vol. 482 No. 8
27 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the cost of the veterinary inspection system per animal slaughtered in licensed abattoirs in the State and in licensed meat export premises in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19473/97]
The unit cost of the entire veterinary service provided by my Department at meat export plants in 1996 were as follows:
Cattle-Sheep, £8.20 per livestock unit; Pigs, £1.93 per head.
This service includes meat inspection, implementation of EU market support controls, disease eradication and premium schemes.
Statutory responsibilities for supervision of day to day operations at domestic abattoirs rests with the relevant local authority and my Department does not have the information requested in relation to this area.
