Vol. 424 No. 9
135 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself that the budget and grant aid to Córas Beostoic Feola is adequate; and the proposals, if any, he has to increase the resources available to that body.
The budget of Córas Beostoic agus Feola has nearly doubled to over £7 million since 1989. The increase includes a doubling of the grant-in-aid to £1.5 million, a voluntary contribution of £1 million from the meat industry and of £0.6 million from the EC Structural Funds. The rates of producer levies on cattle, sheep and pigs have remained constant during this period.
This year, as a special measure to help the meat industry cope with the fall in the value of sterling, additional Exchequer funding of £150,000 has been allocated to CBF. I am satisfied that CBF has adequate resources to fulfil its current functions and I have no further proposals to increase the grant-in-aid at present.
