Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Waste Disposal.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

128 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the cost of disposal of abattoir offal; the arrangements, if any, in place for such disposal; if his attention has been drawn to the huge increase in fees to licensed butchers in respect of this disposal; his views on whether the charges are excessive and will eliminate a substantial number of businesses as a consequence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3918/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I was aware of an increase in the cost of the collection and disposal of offal in the latter part of last year. These increases were caused by an international downturn in the demand for animal feed being produced by the rendering industry.

My understanding is that with an improvement in demand and price for the rendering industry's products, charges have been reduced, by and large, to the levels previously charged to butchers and that offal collection is continuing as normal.