Vol. 514 No. 1
157 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that application forms for the heifer slaughter premium scheme were not available from the commencement of the scheme in autumn 1999; if farmers who sold heifers to private butchers at the end of 1999 will receive this premium; the procedure, if any, they should follow to obtain this premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3598/00]
The scheme referred to is the new slaughter premium 2000 scheme. Under this scheme a slaughter premium is payable, not only on heifers but also on bulls, steers and cows slaughtered in local abattoirs or licensed meat export premises within the EU or exported live to non-EU countries in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The scheme commenced on 1 January 2000, not the autumn of 1999.
The procedure is that application forms are not required for animals slaughtered within the country or exported live to non-EU countries as this information will be captured by the cattle movement monitoring system – CMMS. This information will assist my Department in determining the eligibility of these animals for premium. Payment will issue automatically where these animals are deemed to have met all the requirements of the slaughter premium scheme.
Application forms will only be required for animals exported for slaughter in another EU member state. These forms will be available shortly and a helpsheet detailing the operation and terms and conditions of the slaughter premium 2000 scheme will issue to all registered herdowners. Payments under this scheme cannot commence until 16 October 2000 at the earliest.
