Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Compensation Payments.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

261 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person, whose sheep were depopulated prior to Christmas 2001, was given an adjustment in compensation under the scrapie depopulation scheme 2001-02 when everybody else got the lower rate of compensation; and the reason one person was given an exceptionally high payment compared to others. [15734/02]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

302 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of the principle for an adjusted compensation payment for female lambs depopulated prior to Christmas 2001 under the scrapie depopulation scheme for 2001-02; and the details of the weights of all of the animals depopulated which resulted in an adjusted compensation payment. [16110/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 302 together.

In general, the owners of sheep flocks which were depopulated as a result of scrapie prior to Christmas 2001 have been paid compensation on the basis of an agreement reached at that time between my Department and IFA, representing the farmers concerned.

There were particular circumstances which gave rise to an adjustment in compensation for one flockowner whose sheep were depopulated in the period in question, when animals categorised as lambs at the time of slaughter were subsequently re-categorised as hoggets, resulting in an increase in their value. I am arranging for details of the weights of the animals re-categorised to be transmitted to the Deputy.

The remaining flockowners clearly understood the basis upon which their flocks were depopulated, and were aware of the categorisation attributed to their animals and the price they would obtain for each category at the time of slaughter. Indeed a number of these flockowners were personally present at the negotiations which led to the agreed compensation package.

My Department has fully met its obligations under this agreement and it is not proposed to retrospectively vary the terms of payment which were clearly agreed to by all concerned.