Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason her Department has failed to implement in full the December 2001 agreement with the Irish Farmers Association on the depopulation of known scrapie flocks; when the third element of the agreement on compensation associated with restocking will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2909/06]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to implement in full the recommendations set out in the Crosby report on scrapie compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2910/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.

The agreement of December 2001 with the Irish Farmers Association did not contain a commitment on the part of my Department to meet costs related to restocking in years 4 to 6 following flock depopulation as a result of scrapie. However, following consideration of a technical report on possible additional costs that could arise in those years for those who restocked in year 3, I sought and received approval from the EU Commission, under state aid rules, to make additional payments to flockowners who had flocks depopulated as a result of scrapie during the period December 2001 to 15 April 2003. As the additional costs in each case would be related, inter alia, to the number of breeding ewes in the flocks in years 4 to 6, my Department issued documentation along with declaration forms to the relevant flockowners in late November last in relation to these payments for year 4. Flockowners who wish to be considered for these payments were requested to return the completed stocking declaration form together with their flock register. A number of flockowners have submitted their applications, inspections have been carried out and payments issued. Some of the flockowners have difficulty with the foregoing. While discussions are continuing with farmer representatives on this, payments must be based on relevant accounting principles and must avoid overpayment.