I take it the Deputy's question relates to the request by local authority abattoirs for investment aid to upgrade to the minimum standard set out in the Abattoirs Act, 1988, (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1989, as amended by the Abattoirs Act, 1988, and (Abattoirs) Regulations, 1998.
The use of State aids is governed by the EU treaty and, from an operational point of view, by Community Guidelines for State Aids in the Agriculture Sector. These guidelines preclude payment of aid to establishments which, inter alia, fail to meet the minimum mandatory hygiene, environmental and animal welfare standards. While there is the possibility of an exemption in the case of green field investments or newly introduced minimum standards, neither of these situations apply to the type of upgrading in question in this instance.
Proposals for aid under the food related initiatives of the national development plan for other purposes can be considered and my Department has had a number of meetings with the representatives of the local authority abattoirs to discuss this. A further meeting with these representatives has been arranged and will take place shortly.