Brian Stanley
Ceist:66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department can provide grant aid or any other assistance to Mountrath livestock mart to reopen for business. [3927/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 February 2024
Ceisteanna (66)
Freagraí scríofa
The operation of a livestock market is a private business which, from an animal health and welfare perspective, is subject to regulation by my Department.
Each year, nearly three million cattle and sheep are sold through livestock marts and I acknowledge the important role that marts play in maintaining viable sales outlets for livestock.
However, while periodically DAFM provides grant aid for marts to promote strategic Departmental objectives such as high standards of animal health, disease prevention or enhanced traceability, it is not the role of the Department to provide funding for the re-opening of marts.
My Department did provide specific supports to the overall livestock mart sector in recent years; these supported marts in modernising their facilities to adapt to new technologies introduced to enhance the traceability of animals through mart facilities.
Funding was most recently available in 2023 for marts to upgrade their equipment following the introduction of mandatory electronic identification (EID) of cattle. The Mart EID Upgrade Scheme closed on 10th November 2023.
There is no funding available from my Department to livestock marts to re-open for business.