Vol. 510 No. 3
60 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the level of shipping capacity which exists for the transport of livestock to overseas markets; the number of additional ships approved for this trade; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient capacity exists to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22341/99]
Since the beginning of the year, my Department has approved four additional dedicated cattle ships and a roll-on/roll-off vessel for the carriage of livestock. All of the dedicated ships have been approved for transporting cattle to the continent while two are approved for markets further afield such as the Lebanon. The extra roll-on/roll-off vessel operates between Cork and France. This brings the total number of dedicated ships approved for the export of cattle to 17 and gives a capacity on such vessels of over 23,000 head of cattle at 500 Kg weight. In addition, there is the capacity for up to 72 livestock units to be carried each week on three roll-on/roll-off vessels currently operating out of Rosslare and Cork.
There has been a further dramatic surge in cattle exports this year, with total exports to 24 October 1999, amounting to 337,265 compared with 126,286 in the same period last year – a 167 per cent increase. Exports to the continent to 24 October 1999, amount to 277,511 compared with 103,453 in the same period last year.
My Department will continue to respond without delay to all reasonable requests for inspection to vessels to ensure that there is sufficient capacity available to meet demand.
