Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Animal Carcase Disposal.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

251 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his proposals on the collection of fallen sheep under the fallen animals collection service currently in operation; the charges associated with this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9149/02]

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

Under the terms of the fallen animal scheme, the rendering of all fallen animals delivered to approved plants and the disposal of the resultant meat and bone meal is subsidised by my Department. This arrangement, which includes sheep, was put in place at the same time as a subsidised collection service was set up for fallen bovines. While the collection from farms of fallen bovines is subsidised at fixed rates per collected animal, this particular aspect of the scheme does not extend to animals other than bovines.

The fact that a comprehensive collection scheme for bovines at reasonable charges per ani mal collected is now in place and the fact that non-bovines delivered to approved rendering plants do not incur a charge means that fallen sheep can be collected at reasonable cost. Unlike in the case of cattle, the option to bury sheep on farm under licence from the district veterinary office is open to producers in certain circumstances. The option is also open to producers to deliver fallen sheep to registered knackeries where a nominal charge is imposed for taking the carcase to the rendering plant. All in all, I am satisfied that the fallen animal scheme as introduced by me last year at an annual cost of €25 million is working well and providing a good service to farmers.