Vol. 507 No. 4
41 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of shipping capacity which exists for the transport of livestock to overseas markets; the way in which this compares with the position in 1997; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient capacity exists to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16541/99]
Since the beginning of the year, my Department has approved four additional dedicated cattle ships. All of these have been approved for transporting cattle to the Continent while two are approved for markets further afield such as the Lebanon.
This brings the total number of dedicated ships approved for the transport of cattle to 16 and gives a capacity on such vessels of more than 22,000 heads of cattle at 500 kg weight.
In addition, there is the capacity for up to 30 livestock units to be carried each week on roll-on/roll-off services currently operating out of Rosslare. My Department has recently approved another vessel, the M.V. Venus for a roll-on/roll-off service between Cork and St. Malo. This new service which has a capacity to carry nine to ten livestock units on each voyage and which is expected to operate three times a week is planned to commence shortly and is in addition to the existing two roll-on/roll-off services available from Rosslare to the Continent for livestock exporters. I am satisfied that sufficient capacity exists to meet demand to both continental and third country destinations.
In 1997, there were nine dedicated vessels for the transport of cattle from Ireland while for part of that year, there was no roll-on/roll-off service available. There has been a further dramatic surge in live exports this year with total exports to mid June 1999 amounting to 175,642, compared with 56,490 in the same period last year. Exports to the Continent thus far this year amount to 136,135, compared with 44,214 in the same period last year.
My Department will continue to respond without delay to all reasonable requests for inspection of vessels and will be inspecting additional ships within the next two months, which may result in a further increase in available shipping capacity.
