Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 2

Written Answers. - Specified Risk Material.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

73 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the cost of storage for the meat and bone meal and renderings being stored due to lack of facilities to dispose of the material; the plans he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/01]

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

Following the EU ban on the feeding of meat and bone meal, my Department held a number of meetings with the rendering industry aimed at ensuring that commercial rendering would continue on an ongoing basis.

Part of the agreement reached involves a financial contribution by my Department towards meat and bone meal storage costs incurred by rendering companies. The rate of contribution is currently set at vouched costs or a maximum payment of 35p per tonne per week. My Department is organising an EU wide tender for the disposal abroad by incineration of up to 20,000 tonnes of meat and bone meal currently held in storage.