The cost of the meat inspection service provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) last year was in the region of €40 million.

The department has a "veterinary presence" at every slaughter plant in the country to oversee meat processing and ensure it meets EU and Irish food safety rules.

According to DAFM veterinary inspectors and agriculturalofficers carry out "certain designated functions" together with temporary veterinary inspectors, who are private veterinary practitioners assigned on a roster basis to the plants concerned.

EU rules allow the State to recover the cost of veterinary meat inspections carried out at approved slaughter plants, which are mainly based on the level of throughput.

The fees charged for meat inspections vary depending on the type and number of animals being slaughtered, ranging from on average €5 per cattle to €0.005 per small poultry bird.

According to DAFM a total of €15.94 million was collectedin 2025, in relation to fees for meat inspections and otherrelated activity.

DAFM

According to figures compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) there was a fall in the number of sleep and cattle slaughtered in both meat establishments approved by DAFM and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities in 2025.

The number of cattle slaughtered in 2025 was estimated to be 1.7 million head, a decrease of 229,000 head (-12.0%) compared with 2024.

The number of sheep slaughterings also fell by 491,000 head last year compared to 2024 figures (-17.2%) to 2.4 million head.

But in contrast pig slaughterings were estimated to be 3.4 million head in 2025, up 86,000 head (+2.6%) on 2024 figures.

According to CSO figures the decline in the number of cattle slaughtered has continued this year.

An estimated 1.1 million cattle were slaughtered in Ireland between January and August this year.

The Livestock Slaughterings August 2026 report detailed that this represents a decrease of 62,000 head or 5.4% when compared with the same period in 2025.