Vol. 542 No. 5
251 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all producers affected by depopulation arising from BSE have been paid or compensated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25302/01]
It is policy to compensate herdowners for the value of their herd or animals as soon as possible after BSE has been diagnosed on completion of processing of documentation etcetera. At any given time there are a number of herdowners whose cases are being processed and compensation is paid once the valuation of the herd is agreed, the animals are depopulated and the necessary documentation is received from the herdowner and from the relevant slaughterhouse.
On some occasions, delays can occur due to difficulties with valuations while there may be cases where doubts exist as to the identification or origin of the infected animal, of other animals in the herd, or in relation to other factors which may have given rise to the disease. It is the policy of my Department to investigate such issues prior to payment to ensure that there is no question of culpability on the part of the herdowner in relation to the introduction of the disease into the herd. Such investigations give rise to delays in payment in a very small minority of cases.
252 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent to which owners have been compensated arising from slaughter in the course of the foot and mouth scare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25303/01]
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease – FMD – in Proleek on the Cooley Peninsula made it necessary to cull susceptible animals on the peninsula in order to prevent the disease spreading to livestock in other areas of County Louth and further afield. In addition, some animals were slaughtered in other parts of the country as a precautionary measure.
Some 280 flocks and herds were depopulated on the Cooley Peninsula in the course of the cull along with 24 flocks-herds in the rest of the country. More than 50,000 sheep were culled during the foot and mouth crisis together with 1,880 other susceptible species. A total in excess of £7.3 million has been issued in compensation to herdowners in respect of these flocks. This breaks down as £6.8 million in respect of the Cooley herdowners and £0.5 million in respect of the balance of the country.
