Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements that must be fulfilled for a person to deal cattle below 100 in number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/25]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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191. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements for a cattle dealers licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36263/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.

All persons owning livestock must apply for a herd number from my Department. The process for obtaining a herd number include an assessment of suitability against a number of criteria including biosecurity, suitability of the establishment in relation to the numbers and types of animals proposed to be held, handling facilities, isolation facilities and waste management. All herdowners must comply with the relevant rules and regulations regarding animal welfare, identification and disease control appropriate to their production model.

A dealer is classified as a natural or legal person who buys and sells animals commercially, either directly or indirectly, who has regular turnover of these animals and who within a maximum of 30 days of buying animals, resells them or relocates them, from the first premises to other premises, not within his or her ownership. “Regular turnover” means the buying and reselling within 30 days of more than 100 bovine or more than 100 swine animals in any 12 month period. A dealer must be registered with my Department by applying through their regional veterinary office.

A dealer premises must comply with the same conditions as those relating to a herd number and dealers must abide by the same rules and regulations regarding animal welfare, identification, disease control etc., as other herds. An additional condition for a dealer number is complete separation between the dealer establishment and any other farming enterprise. Furthermore, dealers are subject to annual compliance inspections, the focus of which is to ensure that complete separation between the dealer establishment and any other farming enterprise is maintained at all times.

Operators who turnover, within 30 days of purchase, less than 100 animals in a 12 month period are not considered to be operating as dealers and must comply with the obligations of a herdowner as set out above.