Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a demand-led scheme. We would hope that over the course of the year we would be able to reduce the reactor numbers. The finance group in the TB forum will certainly assess and monitor the cost as it evolves. Primarily the increased cost has been borne by the Department. It is primarily down to the cost of compensation. I do not have the figure for the reduction in the EU contribution to hand but I will revert to the Deputy. It has, however, increased the cost of the eradication programme from €43.9 million last year to €45.5 million this year.