Vol. 548 No. 4
118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the degree to which a proper service exists for the disposal of animal carcases; if the collection of such carcasses imposes penalties on the producer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5229/02]
The fallen animal collection scheme was introduced on 1 July 2001. Based on the applications received to date, and the operation of the scheme, I am satisfied that the system is working satisfactorily. In all, some 41,000 animals have been collected since its introduction.
My information is that in the vast majority of cases, animals are collected on the day on which they are notified to the licensed animal collector. In cases where the notification occurs late in the day or at the weekend, collection takes place as soon as possible on the following working day. The charges for the collection of animals are fixed under the terms of the scheme and there is no provision for penalties.
The subsequent disposal and rendering of all carcasses collected is subsidised by the State under the terms of the fallen animal collection scheme, and no additional costs for this service are incurred by either the producer or the licensed collector.
