Vol. 486 No. 3
119 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason farmers in County Mayo have not been able to avail of the new cattle identity card or passport scheme despite his assurance that the scheme has been fully operational from 1 January 1998. [2776/98]
141 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the new calf tagging system will be fully operational in view of the fact that it was supposed to be ready for 1 January 1998; and if payment of vets' fees by farmers due to the Department's delay will be refunded. [2607/98]
142 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of dairy farmers in County Mayo that are being affected by the delay in introducing the new calf tagging system. [2609/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 119, 141 and 142 together.
Mullinahone Co-op commenced distributing the current automatic supply of eartags to farmers from early in January. As was the case of supply in 1996 and 1997, farmers in the main dairying counties in the southern part of the country will receive tags first. All farmers who are deemed to require supplies of tags will receive them within the next few weeks. Tags are scheduled to be sent to herdowners in County Mayo during the week beginning 9 February 1998. In addition, the Department has made a special arrangement with Mullinahone Co-op whereby they will produce an emergency supply of tags on their premises in Mullinahone. Under this arrangement, tags will be supplied to farmers who demonstrate an urgent need to move calves born on the holding to sale or on animal health-welfare grounds. In County Mayo 31 farmers have availed of this arrangement to date. Any costs associated with brass tagging an animal to avail of the calf processing premium scheme when that scheme commences this year will continue to be payable by the farmer to the veterinary practitioner.
The new arrangements for the issuing of cattle identity cards-passports came into operation in all parts of the country on 1 Janaury 1998. Under these arrangements, a cattle identity card-passport is issued by South-Western Services Co-op Bandon on receipt by them of a validly completed birth registration form from the owner-keeper of the new born calf. To date, a total of 22,603 cattle identity cards-passports have been issued in respect of calves born on or after 1 January 1998. Some 573 of these were issued to farmers in County Mayo.
