Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Importantly, we have established a TB forum and, within that, we have three working groups. One of those working groups is focused on finance and there is a lot of work ongoing on a report on the issue of finance and a report on the current cost incurred. I will be informed by the work of that TB forum and by that report.

The significant burden and the largest part of the expenditure is being carried by the Department. As the Deputy can see, over the course of the past year, there has been an increased cost to the Department associated with the programme in terms of compensation because of the reactor numbers. Every farm that has a reactor has a massive implication for those herds and we have seen that increase. Some 1% more farms went down last year than did the year before and that placed a significant burden on them. While there is compensation available from the Department to address that, the best way we can try to address the issue overall is to drive down the numbers and to try to work towards the reduction and elimination of TB.

Ultimately, I want to get back on a course which is about eradication because it has not been going in that direction in the past year. That is why everyone needs to work together, and I value the working engagement and relationship with the farm organisations in particular and their role in the TB forum because we all have to show leadership and work together to drive the strategy forward if we are going to see a reduction in the numbers.