Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 664: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in respect of cladding used for grant purposes in farm buildings which currently has to be of S/102 standard, her Department will approve BS/5502 Class 2 standard cladding which is widely used in the UK and available for import; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12271/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Standard BS 5502, part 21, is only a guide on best practice in relation to the selection of roof cladding materials for agriculture buildings, and as such it is not possible to have cladding sheets tested to meet its requirements.

My Department developed a testing procedure, in association with cladding manufacturers, in the mid-1990s, and this system has remained unchanged since 1997. The test procedures were developed following the premature failure of cladding sheets over animal housing in the late 1980s. The tests that are required ensure that only quality cladding materials, which will last for at least 20 years, are used on grant-aided agricultural buildings. My Department will examine any applications for inclusion of cladding sheets on its accepted list (S. 102) regardless of location of the company once the proposed sheets can be shown to meet the agreed requirements.

Since April 2007, the number of accepted cladding manufacturers has increased by 40% and the number of accepted cladding sheets has increased by over 50% during the same period.