The carcasses of farm animals are being left in fields to rot in Cos Mayo and Galway. This is, it is claimed, because a new scheme for the collection and disposal of carcasses in the region has broken down.
The Mayo Fine Gael TD, Mr Enda Kenny, said the Department of Agriculture recently signed a contract with Greene's Knackery in Ballinasloe for the collection and disposal of animal carcasses in most of Co Mayo and all of Co Galway.
"The contract became operational on the first of this month [July] but has now stopped. The firm collected the dead animals for a week or two. Farmers in this region are becoming more concerned every day that passes now without the service," said Mr Kenny.
Ms Ann Greene, of Greene's Knackery, said yesterday a new scheme for the collection and disposal of carcasses had come into operation on July 1st.
"We have no contract with the Department of Agriculture. We are doing our best to implement the scheme in the area we are covering but we have run into difficulties. The Department of Agriculture is aware of these problems, and we are in contact with Department officials trying to rectify the situation at present."
Mr Kenny said: "I have had a number of farmers in south Mayo in contact with me because they have fallen animals on their lands for more than a week now. When they try to have the dead animals shifted or attempt to get a licence to bury them, they are unable to do so."
He said farmers could not move the animals because once the Department of Agriculture signed a contract for the collection and disposal of carcasses in a region, Department officials could not issue burial licences for carcasses there.
Mr Kenny said: "Some 150 calves died last week in the south Mayo area that I am aware of, and all of those animals are left on land to rot while this mess is being sorted out. It's not the fault of the farmers.
"The disposal of farm animal carcasses is a major health issue, with growing concern over BSE and foot-and-mouth disease. And yet the Department of Agriculture has let this situation drag on, without any emergency measure to deal with the problem. I have contacted the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, and asked him to intervene immediately," Mr Kenny said.