Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 5

Written Answers. - Specified Risk Material.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

57 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of processing plants which are now rendering specified risk material; if a build-up of this material is occurring as a result of the beef slaughter scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9289/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

There are currently three rendering plants licensed by my Department to render specified risk material. These plants are located in counties Meath, Cavan and Galway. The third of these plants was authorised last week.

There has been a build up of specified risk material, SRM, due to a temporary unavailability of SRM rendering capacity for the purchase for destruction scheme. This material has been kept in secure frozen storage under the control of my Department. I am confident the additional capacity that has been put in place will enable this material to be processed in the near future.