Vol. 506 No. 5
127 Mr. J. Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of live cattle exported for the first five months of 1999; the numbers for the same period in each of the years 1997 and 1998; the number of ships approved for the carriage of livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16026/99]
According to data maintained by my Department, a total of 151,083 cattle were exported live between 1 January and 31 May this year. This represents a major surge in the level of exports on the previous two years. It compares with shipments of 53,551 animals exported on the same period of 1998, an increase of 182 per cent and with shipments of 19,991 head exported in the same period of 1997, more than a seven fold increase.
The total number of ships approved for the export of cattle is 16, giving a capacity on such vessels for over 22,000 cattle at 500kg weight.
In addition, there is the capacity for up to 30 livestock units to be carried each week on roll-on/roll-off services. My Department has recently approved another vessel, the MV Venus, for a roll-on/roll-off service between Cork and St. Malo. This new service, which is expected to carry nine to ten units on each voyage, is planned to commence early July.
