Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the details of measures he will introduce to reduce the cost of animal disposal; when he will bring forward measures to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of the fallen animal scheme; the recommendations being made to farmers in the absence of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20184/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 51 together.

My Department's contribution to the fallen animals scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday, 14 April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However, I provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, notably bovines aged over 48 months, for sampling, as required under the ongoing national BSE surveillance programme. The disposal of dead farm animals is subject to EU regulations, notably Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002. These regulations require that animals, which die on-farm, must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants.

With the ending of the fallen animals scheme, the cost of collection and rendering for animals not covered by the new scheme is now a matter for negotiation between the individual collectors-rendering plants and their customers. Within the boundaries of legal requirements, my Department is making every effort to facilitate measures enabling reduction of costs in the rendering-collection system such as allowing cross-Border trade, permitting direct delivery by farmers to authorised plants, considering removal of some costs currently built into the rendering process and encouraging indigenous use of meat and bone meal, MBM, for energy.

Farmers may continue to use the existing collection network or, in the alternative, may transport dead animals by prior arrangement to approved knackeries, provided they transport the carcases in leak proof, covered containers or vehicles. Burial of fallen animals is only permissible under licence in remote areas, that is, islands, and listed mountain and bogland areas. Farmers who wish to bury animals on-farm should apply to their local district veterinary office for a burial licence. It is also a legal requirement on all keepers of bovine animals to notify movements of all bovines, dead or alive, off their holdings to my Department.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The fallen animals scheme represented poor value for the taxpayer and it facilitated the emergence of a cartel, which overcharged and excessively profiteered on the disposal of dead animals. The proof of this is the substantially lower prices paid in Northern Ireland for the disposal of animals. Will the Minister ensure that all impediments to licensed bona fide operators from Northern Ireland are removed in order that they can compete aggressively for business in the Republic and be licensed, provided they meet all the requirements, and that the Department adopts a proactive approach in this regard? Competition will drive prices down significantly. A number of these operators are being licensed but the Department needs to be proactive on this.

Sampling will still be required for animals aged over 48 months because of BSE. The cost associated with having personnel to carry out the sampling is substantial. I understand on the basis of a reply I received to a previous parliamentary question that the Department invested considerable funds training non-veterinary staff to FETAC level 5 to carry out post-mortem inspections of animals in meat factories but it never subsequently availed of the staff it trained. The cost of producing samples of animals aged over 48 months is excessive. It is a simple procedure, which involves scooping out brain matter, putting it in a test tube, closing the cap and sending it to the laboratory for testing. Significant savings could also be made in this area if the Minister had the will to tackle the issue. Has he plans in this regard?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to sending material to Northern Ireland, ten knackeries have been approved by the Department and, to date, six licences have issued to companies in the North. Some product has been transported to Northern Ireland for rendering. I also understand that another knackery intends to start sending material to Northern Ireland shortly. Applications that were submitted by enterprises to the Department were processed and turned around very quickly. I can assure the Deputy that if any bona fide operator seeks a licence, there will be no delay in issuing such a licence once all the criteria are met. We will make sure of that.

The other point concerned testing. We are still subsidising the collection, segregation and preparation for sampling adult bovine animals - those are fallen animals over 48 months of age - and the preparation for sampling of certain categories of sheep and goats. We have provided for that in this year's Estimate. In dealing with this matter, we will be reducing costs in all respects. As regards our surveillance programme with the EU, we will ensure that every aspect of the collection of fallen animals over 48 months will meet with all the conditions we applied in the past as well.

Another important issue concerns meat and bonemeal. Together with my ministerial colleagues, Deputy John Gormley and Deputy Eamon Ryan, I have been engaging with relevant plants to ensure they will take up the opportunity of meat and bonemeal for the production of energy. It is ridiculous that over the years we exported such product to places like Germany. We want to see greater momentum given to that enterprise in this country.