A total of 313 farmers in the Cooley Peninsula, County Louth, were compensated for the culling of their stock during the foot and mouth disease crisis. In so far as sheep were concerned, valuations were carried out to fix a market value for each flock as the basis for compensation as provided by law. Initial valuations tended to conform with the ready reckoners used by the Department's own valuers. As matters progressed it became necessary for outside valuers to be drawn in to speed up the whole process. Their valuations were seen by local flock owners as more generous than valuations carried out by the Department personnel. Roughly speaking, those whose animals were taken in the latter part of the exercise tended to be satisfied, while flock owners whose animals were valued and taken at an earlier stage felt aggrieved.
To address local concerns it was agreed that the cases of flock owners who fell into this category would be reviewed. The review comprised an examination of valuations on 286 files followed by a further investigation of 182 cases where it was established that this was warranted. Valuers were requested to re-examine these files and supplementary payments totalling €415,000 and ranging between an additional €80 to an additional €22,535, were recommended. These payments were in addition to payments of some €3.4 million already made to the flock owners in question on foot of the initial valuations. These recommendations were accepted by my Department.
I am satisfied that the valuation review in relation to the Cooley flocks was conducted in a fair, detailed, professional and speedy manner. I have no plans to take any further action in the matter. My Department will be vigorously defending its handling of this issue in legal proceedings brought against it by a very small number of those involved who are claiming they were inadequately compensated for culled animals.
