Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 3

Written Answers. - BSE Compensation Payments.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

125 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he will have arrangements made to pay the EU BSE compensation package due to farmers since October 1996; the basis on which payments will be paid; and the amounts per head of livestock to be paid. [11019/97]

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

The EU funded BSE compensation package which was the subject of agreement in the Agriculture Council last October was not formally adopted until December 1996. In the interests of administrative convenience, I have decided to implement this package in conjunction with the agrimonetary compensation package which was adopted by the Agriculture Council in March.

The total amount of aid under both measures is approximately £50 million and will be allocated as follows: (1) suckler cow premium: A top-up of approximately £20 in respect of each suckler cow which qualified for a premium under the 1996 scheme; (2) special beef premium: A top-up of approximately £10 in respect of each male animal which qualified for a premium under the 1996 ten and 22 months special beef premium schemes; (3) deseasonalisation slaughter premium: A top-up of approximately £10 per head for those animals which qualified for the 1997 deseasonalisation slaughter premium payment of the top-up in respect of animals slaughtered after 1 April is subject to proof that the applicant owed the animals in question on 1 April 1997; (4) special cases: A payment of approximately £20 per head to (a) producers (i) who have had male cattle slaughtered at meat export plants or exported live outside the EU between 10 June 1996 and 31 December 1996, and (ii) who owned the male cattle prior to 20 March 1996, and (iii) did not claim any premium on the male cattle in question, and (b) producers who sold finished heifers which they owned prior to 20 March 1996 to meat export plants, local abattoirs or marts between 1 July 1996 and 31 December 1996. In the case of heifers sold through marts a minimum liveweight of 450 kgs applies.

The precise levels of payments will be determined as soon as the overall number of animals qualifying is known.

In the case of (1), (2) and (3) above it is intended that the top-up payments will be made automatically during May 1997. In the case of the deseasonalisation slaughter premium it is intended that the top-up to be paid in May will be in respect of those animals for which a basic deseasonalisation slaughter premium has already issued — generally animals slaughtered in the period January to 31 March 1997. Top-ups in respect of animals slaughtered afte 1 April will be paid as soon as possible thereafter.

In the case of (4) above the closing date for receipt of completed application forms was Wednesday 16 April 1997. The applications are currently being processed in my Department and it is intended that payments will issue during May 1997.