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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 31 Oct 1974

Vol. 275 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ergot Compensation.

88.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department will pay compensation to a farmer (name supplied) in County Meath whose cows have become infected with ergot; or whether this farmer will qualify for any low-interest loans on the ground that ergot is a rare disease which farmers are not aware of and are unable to recognise in rye grass.

My Department do not operate any scheme of compensation or loans at a subsidised interest rate which would cover a case of this kind. The herdowner should be advised to get in touch with the Agricultural Credit Corporation Ltd. to ascertain whether he would qualify for any of the facilities which they offer.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this is a very rare disease and one that the Department have never notified farmers in the public Press to be aware of? In view of the hardship on this farmer, losing ten cattle from his herd, would the Minister consider giving a grant or a low-interest loan so as to help him over this difficult period?

Fortunately ergot is a rare disease, possibly so rare that it is not scheduled to be dealt with under the Diseases of Animals Act. It is unfortunate that this man's herd was affected and the only suggestion that could be made is that he should try to get help from the ACC.

I have sympathy for a farmer like that, but possibly sympathy is not much good in such a case. The Department cannot help him, due to the regulations laid down governing the utilisation of Departmental funds.

The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper, except for those replies which Deputies may wish to collect at the General Office.

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