Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Pigmeat Sector
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1021. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1065 of 20 March 2024, how many sanctions/fines have been imposed for breaching the Pig Directive since 2020; how many farm inspections have occurred; and how often a farm is inspected. [14924/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Since 2020, 490 pig welfare inspections have been carried out. In relation to the Pig Directive, no sanctions/fines have been imposed for breaches of the legislation by the courts since 2020.
Farms are selected for inspection based on a number of criteria, including risk factors and the results of previous inspections, which can result in a variance in the frequency of inspection.
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1022. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1065 of 20 March 2024, the reason, in relation to the pig and poultry investment scheme, the provision of optimal enrichment is not mentioned as one of the improvements, as that is the biggest risk factor for tail biting (aside from the existence of a tail); and how he plans on monitoring that the specifications for pig housing under the scheme have been met. [14925/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
In relation to the design of pig housing, enrichment is an integral part of my Department’s specification S.141, which relates to the minimum specification for new pig houses, with Appendix 1 of this specification setting out the detailed requirements for enrichment in new pig housing.
All building plans submitted as part of a TAMS 3 application are reviewed to ensure that the proposed structure can be completed in accordance with the specification, before the works are approved. At payment stage applications are subject to inspections to confirm that the buildings have been completed in accordance with the relevant specifications before payment of grant-aid. For TAMS 3, applicants are also required to submit geo-tagged photographs of the completed investments.
No comments