Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the costs affecting the pig and poultry sectors arising from animal welfare regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14600/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has worked closely with both the pig and poultry sectors as they have adapted to the introduction of new animal welfare requirements in 2012 and in 2013. Significant supports, in the form of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), for egg producers and pig farmers were put in place and a total of €32 million to these sectors was made available under the Rural Development Programme.

In the case of egg producers the conversion of production systems to ‘enriched cages’ came into operation on 1 January 2012. From this date eggs from ‘unenriched’ caged production systems were not allowed to be placed on the market. Following the operation of an aid package amounting to €16 million to assist producers to convert, the size of the caged egg flock remained stable, at approximately 1.25 million birds due to new entrants and consolidation amongst existing producers.

The Loose Sow Housing Directive came into operation in January of this year. These new standards in relation to the housing of sows have presented a challenge to pig farmers and officials from my Department continue to liaise with producers as a small number continue to work towards compliance.

The Sow Housing Welfare Scheme was introduced in 2010 to facilitate pig producer compliance with the new requirements. The scheme has been enhanced and extended on a number of occasions. While the majority of producers have worked extremely hard to achieve compliance, my Department became aware that a small number of producers had experienced difficulties with planning permission and, with this in mind I recently announced a further extension in the deadline for grant applications until 2 April 2013.

I have provided a total of €16 million for this scheme. I should add that this funding is in addition to earlier Sow Welfare Schemes which delivered over €6 million to successful applicants.

Officials from my Department will continue to engage with pig producers to ensure compliance with this and all animal welfare requirements.