Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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376. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of collecting and administering the disease levies collected by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bovine disease levies, which yielded €6.2m in 2015, are collected at Department approved slaughter plants, milk processing plants, Local Authority approved slaughter plants and at points of export of bovines. Inspection fees are collected under separate EU legislation in respect of the cost of official controls carried out under EU food safety regulations relating to cattle slaughtered at meat plants and on live cattle exports as well as on milk deliveries to milk plants.

Collection systems are designed to minimise administrative cost and the burden of compliance on the business operator.

Due to the fact that the staff involved in collecting the disease levies are also involved in collecting the inspection fees and carry out a wide range of other tasks, the actual cost of collecting and administering the disease levies cannot be quantified, but it is considered that the administrative cost involved is relatively modest. The Deputy may wish to note in that connection that an automated system has been introduced for the direct invoicing of disease levies in respect of bovines slaughtered.