Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Poultry Industry

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to the establishment of a fund co-financed by industry and the Government for the Irish poultry industry, similar to the Dutch animal health fund (details supplied), in order to improve disease control and mitigate financial impacts on poultry farmers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22103/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department is currently engaging with industry representatives on the Poultry Working Group’s (PWG) proposal for the sector. This matter is ongoing and my officials will be meeting members of the PWG this week to update industry on the continuing work being undertaken by the Department on all matters raised.

I fully understand the sector’s aim to seek to mitigate as far as possible, the risks that are faced by its members when it comes to disease outbreaks. Department officials are examining what additional measures could be utilised, within the context of existing national and EU legislation, to support the industry in their pursuit of establishing a funding support system for use by the sector in the face of poultry disease challenges.

There are already some excellent supports in place for a number of important diseases for the sector, including High Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Salmonella. Other supports include the availability of the RDP funded Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health measure for assessing farm level biosecurity risks that is available at no cost to poultry farmers, on-farm capital investment under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II) scheme and knowledge transfer and innovation measures, aimed at underpinning farm viability, sustainability and growth through the adoption of best practice and innovative solutions.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.