Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Agriculture and Food

Animal Welfare

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will introduce the animal health schemes for sheep and suckler cows; the annual budget available for both schemes; the maximum payment available per herd owner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21322/07]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The proposals for an Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds were originally submitted to the European Commission in December 2006 as part of the Draft Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). Following consultations with the Commission services on the details of this scheme, certain modifications were made and a revised application for state aid approval was submitted to them on 15 August 2007. This is currently under consideration by the Commission. My Department is in regular contact with the Commission with a view to obtaining approval as rapidly as possible.

A budget of €250 million has been allocated to the scheme with annual payments of €80 per cow, payable over five years, envisaged for suckler cow farmers who undertake to comply with the welfare measures set out. A payment ceiling of a 100 suckler cows in any herd will apply.

As regards sheep I must emphasise that sheep farmers are already major beneficiaries under REPS. However under the REPS 4 a new supplementary measure aimed at sheep farmers has been introduced. The purpose of this measure is to support the mixed grazing of sheep and cattle that would yield both environmental and sector development benefits. The practice of mixed grazing is beneficial both to the protection of biodiversity and to traditional landscapes. They also contribute to animal welfare by facilitating mixed/rotational grazing, thus reducing stomach parasite load. A budget of €28m a year has been allocated to fund the proposed new supplementary measure at an overall cost of over €170m for the period to 2013.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.