Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of compiling mart prices on a weekly basis in all centres here; the cost of travel and subsistence for the staff involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21929/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Cattle and sheep prices are collected at livestock marts by officials of my Department on a weekly basis. The prices are collected in order to (a) provide weekly reports of price data to the EU Commission in the context of the market support systems for cattle and sheep and (b) provide a basis for the on-farm valuation system which underpins the compensation regime available under the disease eradication programmes for TB, Brucellosis, Scrapie and BSE.

In view of the fact that the officials involved in the compilation of these prices undertake a range of other duties, it is difficult to give the precise cost associated with attendance at marts for price reporting purposes. However, it is estimated that the weekly cost of the latter duties is approximately €1,800, of which approximately €500 represents travel and subsistence payments.

With regard to the reporting of cattle and sheep prices to the European Commission, my Department is obliged under EU rules to collect price data on a weekly basis in order to establish average Community prices which are used by the Commission to manage the market in these sectors. With regard to the prices relevant to the valuation scheme, it is important that valuers have access to up-to-date prices for use as a reference when valuing animals removed as reactors. This arrangement was agreed with the farming representative organisations prior to the introduction of this scheme in 2002.