Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which pig and poultry producers have been able to upgrade their accommodation in line with animal welfare regulations; if any specific issues remain outstanding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53583/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new EU animal welfare rules for the pig sector came into force on 1 January 2013. Grant-aid was made available under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme in order to assist farmers to bring their facilities up to the standards required by the new rules.

As a small number of farmers were unable to complete the investment works concerned by the previous closing date of end-September 2013, I recently agreed to extend the deadline concerned until end-February 2014. This will be the final extension for completion of work and lodgement of a payment claim under the above-mentioned Scheme. Farmers will be aware that it is an offence to keep pigs in non-compliant housing after 1 January 2013.