Written answers

Thursday, 15 November 2007

Department of Agriculture and Food

Domestic Abattoirs

5:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of licensed butchers' slaughter houses on a county basis in 1997; the number at present; her views on the rights of the independent butchers to have their own slaughter houses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29174/07]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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According to my Department's records, there were 426 approved local abattoirs in 1997. The Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS), reporting to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, is now responsible for such abattoirs and I understand that there are 189 abattoirs approved by the LAVS under new EU regulations collectively known as the Hygiene Package, which came into operation on 1 January 2006. The breakdown by county for both years is provided in the table.

The Hygiene Package set out updated requirements regarding hygiene and safety assurance for food business operators (FBOs), including butchers, involved in production and placing on the market of foods of animal origin. The Hygiene Package was transposed into Irish domestic law by the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, (S.I. No. 910 of 2005). With the exception of retail activity, food of animal origin may only be placed on the market from establishments that have been approved according to the requirements of these regulations. It is a matter for FBOs concerned to satisfy a registering authority that they comply with the requirements of the Hygiene Regulations.

Breakdown of local authority abattoirs by year and county, 1997-2007
County19972007
Cavan1712
Carlow52
Clare166
Cork6028
Donegal187
Dublin42
Galway309
Kerry2619
Kildare101
Kilkenny124
Laois139
Leitrim147
Limerick2010
Longford74
Louth61
Mayo290
Meath133
Monaghan93
Offaly75
Roscommon149
Sligo52
Tipperary3423
Waterford93
Westmeath2314
Wexford152
Wicklow104
Total426189

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