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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

91 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the terms for payment of compensation to farmers in the Cooley Peninsula area of County Louth as a result of animals slaughtered during the foot and mouth crisis; if the terms have changed since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20894/02]

Compensation to farmers whose herds were depopulated as a result of foot and mouth disease in the Cooley Peninsula was paid on the basis of the market value of the animals, in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Some 280 flocks and herds were depopulated on the Cooley Peninsula in the course of the cull. In so far as sheep were concerned, valuations were carried out to fix a market value on each flock as the basis for compensation provided by law. Initial valuations tended to conform with ready reckoners used by the Department's own valuers. As matters progressed it became necessary for outside valuers to be drawn in to speed up the whole process. Their valuations were seen by local flockowners as more generous than valuations carried out by Department personnel. Roughly speaking, those whose animals were taken in the latter part of the exercise tended to be satisfied, while flockowners whose animals were valued and taken at an earlier stage felt aggrieved.

Following earlier exchanges with IFA at local level, it was agreed that the cases of flockowners who fell into this category would be reviewed. This led to a review of 182 cases in April-May 2001. This exercise resulted in supplementary payments being made in 148 (81%) of these cases. Individual supplementary payments ranged from £80 to £22,535 and totalled £415,000. This was additional to payments of some IR£3.4 million already made to the flockowners in question on foot of the initial valuations.

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