Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on their farm. They are the income supplement scheme, depopulation grant scheme and hardship grant scheme. As part of the work of the TB forum, a dedicated financial working group was established to review the financial modelling of various elements of the bovine TB eradication programme. As a result of the agreement reached in this group, over the past two years, there were rate enhancements to the income supplement scheme, the hardship grant and the depopulation grant, as well as enhanced ceilings for select animals being removed as part of the on farm market valuation scheme.

Seeing a reduction in numbers in the past year is positive. It has been directly linked to our open discussions about risk categorisation of animals and buyers being more aware of that. We know we will see an increase in bovine TB levels so we cannot be complacent. The focus at present is on reducing the levels of disease, which will reduce the very significant impact of bovine TB on Irish farm families, and also reduce the overall cost of the programme.

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