Walsh accused of breaking levy deal
He said the value for money review, which was to be carried out under the agreement, was to lead to a reduction, not an increase, in the current animal disease levies paid by farmers. Farmers had delivered substantial savings in the area of animal disease, and particularly in BSE, where there will be reduced costs of 55m in 2004.
Mr O’Rourke said it is totally unacceptable to farmers and particularly those selling cows from dairy and suckler herds that they are now facing a new charge of 22 per head from next July.
“There was absolutely no need for these extra charges as the cost of funding the current BSE testing can be fully met from the huge savings made by farmers and the Department this year.”
IFA president John Dillon said he will be meeting with Department of Agriculture officials early next week to clarify all details of the estimates.
“In particular I want to clear up any confusion in relation to animal disease levies which I understand are to be brought back to their 2002 level from January 2004,” he said.
ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch said it was disappointing the burden of disease costs on farmers was increasing.
