asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the requirements for the granting of a herd number under the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine TB Eradication Scheme.
84.
Herd numbers are allocated by my Department for the purposes of disease control and are given only in respect of herds which are managed as independent units and where there is no danger of intermixing of the stock with animals from other herds.
85.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why there is a long delay in paying for reactor cattle purchased by his Department under the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme.
Every effort is made to have reactors paid for as soon as possible after collection of the animals concerned and normally payment is effected within three weeks of collection. This, in my view, does not represent undue delay.
Is the Minister aware that very often it extends to three or four months and the fact that an animal is being paid for three or four months after purchase in the early spring often leaves a farmer in a very difficult position because he has to replace the animal on a rising market?
The position, generally speaking, is as I have stated, but Deputy Malone will be aware that in the March Quarter of the year there is a very heavy demand on the Department for payments and there may be some delays that exceed the average time I mentioned. I am aware of the case that Deputy Malone may possibly have in mind.