Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 4

Written Answers. - BSE Compensation Payments.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

60 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received compensation payments in respect of BSE to date in 1996; the amount of the payments in each case; whether any of those in receipt of compensation payments are being investigated for the possible deliberate introduction of BSE into their herds; whether the compensation payments will be recouped should any investigation and subsequent proceedings result in a conviction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23016/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Details relating to compensation payments to farmers in cases where BSE has been confirmed in their herds to date in 1996 are set out in the following table.

Certain aspects of two cases have given rise to concern and these cases have been forwarded to the Garda Síochána for further investigation. No payments have been made in either of these cases so far. By virtue of the Diseases of Animals (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) (Amendment) Order 1992, I am empowered to postpone consideration of an application for compensation in respect of any animal, pending the institution or determination of a prosecution for an offence under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1996, or to make a deduction in such compensation, estimated to be the amount of any loss to the Exchequer where there is failure by the applicant to take reasonable precautions to protect against the disease.

1996 BSE Cases

Case Number	Compensation Agreed
	£
1/96	265,350
2/96	25,000
3/96	23,896
4/96	187,800
5/96	107,159
6/96	53,955
7/96	239,065
8/96	71,991
9/96	86,200
10/96	145,329
11/96	151,500
12/96	74,000
13/96	73,000
14/96	90,000
15/96	96,250
16/96	131,500
17/96	93,500
18/96	275,000
19/96	146,010
20/96	257,500
21/96	73,000
22/96	531,350
23/96	Not finalised
24/96	13,432
25/96	87,000
26/96	224,000
27/96	28,000
28/96	73,000
29/96	75,750
30/96	36,270
31/96	47,500
32/96	151,500
33/96	80,750
34/96	33,500
35/96	64,000
36/96	75,000
37/96	42,220
38/96	27,750
39/96	225,300
40/96	4,200
41/96	100,000
42/96	145,000
43/96	Not finalised
44/96	Not finalised
45/96	248,195
46/96	23,915
47/96	42,750
48/96	Not finalised
49/96	Not finalised
50/96	Not finalised
51/96	29,550
52/96	Not finalised
53/96	Not finalised
54/96	Not finalised
55/96	Not finalised
56/96	Not finalised
57/96	Not finalised
58/96	Not finalised
59/96	Not finalised
60/96	Not finalised
61/96	Not finalised
62/96	Not finalised