Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider paying a person (details supplied) in County Galway compensation under animal health regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6542/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A Veterinary Inspector from my Department made contact with and visited this farmer in May last year, in response to an earlier query. Previously a Department Veterinary Research Officer visited the farm in May 2008 at the request of the farmers' Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP). From time to time samples from the farmer's herd have been submitted to the Department's Regional Veterinary Laboratory by the PVP as an aid to diagnosis. To date, other than a specific diagnosis of lungworm infestation in one sample submitted, there has not been a definitive diagnosis which would lead to the identification of a common cause of death in the adult animals. As advised at the time of the visit by the Veterinary Inspector, a metabolic disorder could be suspected. In this regard, as well as engaging the services of a PVP, there would be merit in the farmer also engaging the services of a nutritionist to investigate this possibility and an Inspector from my Department is available to advise him further in this regard.

To date, whilst the farmer has indeed experienced losses in his dairy herd, there is no evidence that these have resulted from any scheduled or notifiable disease. There are no funds at my disposal to compensate farmers who experience losses associated with conditions that are not subject to regulation by my Department.