Vol. 472 No. 4
25 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will set up a section within his Department to assist farmers who have suffered exceptional losses through technicalities and/or heavy borrowings due to the BSE problem. [23010/96]
The EU has already approved a substantial compensation package worth £70 million for Irish producers who suffered income losses as a result of the lower market prices arising from BSE. This scheme was administered by the premium-headage division of my Department. Payments under the scheme, which was targeted at producers most severely affected by the crisis, were completed by 15 October last. The EU has agreed a further compensation package and this will also be administered by the premium-headage division of my Department. The combined value of these schemes in direct compensation to Irish producers is approximately £100 million and this will go along way towards alleviating the situation of producers who have suffered the most serious losses as a result of the crisis, including producers with heavy borrowings. In addition, Irish farmers will get an extra £15 million in extensification payments and the special deal for Ireland on the continuation of the deseasonalisation slaughter premium is worth £16 million to the incomes of winter beef fatteners. Producers who are still in financial difficulties in spite of these compensation measures should contact their local Teagasc office for advice.
In view of the foregoing, I do not see a compelling case for setting up a special section in my Department to deal with the problems referred to by the Deputy.
