Ireland receives £2m FMD compensation

Ireland will receive euro 2.7 million (£2.12 m) under a scheme for foot-and-mouth compensation from the European Commission.

Announcing nearly euro 400 million of payments to reimburse countries affected by the virus, the Commission said Britain would receive euro 355 million.

The Commission has decided to contribute up to 60 per cent of the payments to farmers in compensation for animals slaughtered to contain the virus.

A spokeswoman for the Commission said Ireland would receive another euro 0.98 million - most likely in 2002 bringing Ireland's compensation to euro 3.68 million.

The Netherlands will receive euro 39 million and France euro 3.3 million under the scheme.

The compensation announced today is an interim payment ahead of a final total to be decided after the disease had been eradicated and member states have submitted completed claims.

Ireland's payments will form part of the compensation to farmers who have had 47, 336 sheep slaughtered; 1,045 cattle slaughtered and 5,385 pigs.

The British government is facing a bill of up to £3 billion sterling for eradicating foot-and-mouth.