Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has received correspondence from the pig producing sector with particular reference to the likely impact arising from costs associated with animal welfare legislation which requires extra expenditure and compliance by the end of the current year; if he will use his good offices to ensure that the industry is capable of meeting such targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28889/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The pig sector remains the third largest individual component of the agrifood sector, with production, prices and exports all growing significantly during 2011. The industry faces a number of challenges in the short and medium term and my Department will continue to assist the sector to resolve these issues.

New EU Animal Welfare rules set down new standards in relation to the housing of sows and these are due to come into force on 1 January 2013. A significant number of producers have undertaken the necessary work required in order to upgrade their facilities in order to comply with the new rules. Teagasc has estimated that approximately 36% of pig units, housing some 44% of the sow population are presently compliant with the provisions.

My Department is aware of the scale of the challenge facing pig farmers in respect of the new requirements. To this end, the Department introduced a Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for Sow Welfare in June 2010. Grant-aid is available at a rate of 40% to eligible producers with a maximum investment ceiling of €300,000, i.e. a maximum grant of €120,000. A total of €13 million has been provisionally allocated to this scheme under the rural development Programme. It follows two earlier schemes in 2005 and 2007 and payments of €6.2 million have already been made under these schemes. At present, approximately 47 applications for grants worth some €4 million have been received under the current scheme.

My Department has written to all pig producers to remind them of the new requirements, and is monitoring the situation closely.