Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if animal welfare requirements in respect of extensions to farm buildings have been facilitated to the extent necessary by the relevant statutory authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48769/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new EU animal welfare requirements for the poultry and pig sectors entered into force on 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2013 respectively. My Department maintains regular contact with the relevant local authorities regarding issues which arise in relation to planning permission for the construction of animal housing which is required in order to comply with the new EU animal welfare standards concerned.

In relation to compliance with welfare requirements for sow housing, my Department has extended the deadline for the completion of works for the purposes of securing grant assistance on a number of occasions, most recently, and for the last time until Friday 28^th February 2014.