Vol. 564 No. 3
15 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of compensation which Ireland has received from the EU to cover the costs of coping with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001; if he has satisfied himself with this amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8857/03]
My Department has submitted a claim for EU co-funding in respect of expenditure totalling €8.2 million on compensation for farmers whose animals were depopulated as a result of FMD. To date, an advance of €2.7 million has been received from the EU in respect of this claim, the remainder of which is still being considered by the EU Commission.
A further claim relating to other eligible operational costs associated with the slaughter of these animals is currently being finalised by my Department for submission to the European Commission. This claim relates to eligible expenditure of circa €4 million and the co-funding rate is 60%.
