Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have that figure to hand, but I can forward it to the Deputy after the meeting. Two impacts have arisen from the increasing cost of the eradication programme over the past couple of years. The first is the fact that the EU contribution has been reducing and the second is that the higher incidence rates are leading to increased costs to the national Exchequer. Not only do we have to make up for the reduction in the EU's contribution, but the increased costs associated with having reactor animals, having to pay compensation and having to manage that challenge are also leading to an increase in cost. Hopefully, with everyone working together and the new TB strategy bearing some fruit, we will see the overall costs reduce and herd incidences continue to reduce in the years ahead.