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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

Questions (70)

Matt Carthy

Question:

70. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will employ to ensure that further lockdown periods if required will not have the same impact in view of reports that mart throughout was down approximately 30,000 head on corresponding 2019 figures during the recent restrictions. [41601/20]

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Written answers

Marts operated succesfully under Level 5 restrictions from Tuesday 22nd October to Monday 30th November. From a position where few marts had online systems in place in April, there has been a rapid take up of the new systems by marts over recent months. Currently the vast majority of marts have online systems in place and are operating through online platforms. Thousands of cattle and sheep have been bought and sold successfully online. 

The figures on mart throughput since Level 5 was introduced, from Thursday 22nd October to Monday 30th November, clearly show that marts and farmers adapted to this:  

Cattle throughput is at 84.2% of the comparable period for 2019 (186,317 v 221,234 cattle) 

Sheep throughput is at 82.7% of the comparable period for 2019 (135,881 v 164,330 sheep)

The same number of marts (approximately 80 per week) have continued to operate during the Level 5 restrictions, to date, as operated during the corresponding weeks in 2019.

In addition to the high throughput figures, clearance rates have been high and prices have been robust.

These figures are testament to the hard work and commitment of marts to keep operating in this difficult period.  . 

From the 1st of December, marts have been operating under Level 3 restrictions. Under level 3 buyers can attend the sales ring subject to adhering to 2 metre social distancing, and can view stock in the pens without prior appointment subject to maintaining a minimum social distance of 2 meters.

In recognition of the extra investment that marts are making in IT infrastructure to facilitate online sales, my Department plans to launch a grant scheme in early 2021 to help with the purchase of IT equipment.   

My Department will continue to monitor the situation, and to adapt measures applied to marts in line with public health guidelines.

I wish to thank mart managers and farmers for adhering so closely to the Level 5 guidlines in helping to keep each other safe. 

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