Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of the upcoming budget if he will give consideration to increasing the capital funding allocations for the horticulture, forestry and aquaculture sectors to achieve output targets and employment growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36124/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 2015 Estimate for my Department will be considered within the context of the annual gross expenditure ceilings that were provisionally allocated to all Departments at the time of budget 2014 and the comprehensive review of expenditure 2015 - 2017. The Government decision in relation to the expenditure ceilings was taken in order to strike a balance between needs and priorities on a multi-annual basis, to meet the requirements of the overall fiscal commitments which are firmly focused on returning the public finances to a sustainable path and to reduce the General Government Deficit by end 2015.

Preparations for the discussions on the 2015 Estimate are under way in the Department and all budget lines in the Vote, both capital and current will be examined as part of that process having regard to the funding constraints for next year. My intention is to ensure that all resources available to my Department will be managed to provide the optimum benefit to economic activity in the agricultural, food, fisheries and forestry sectors, including farm incomes, and to realising the potential which clearly exists for the sectors to contribute to the national economic recovery.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of the upcoming budget if he will give consideration to increasing funding to compensate for losses incurred and income foregone under the national animal health TB, BVD and Johne's disease programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36125/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The TB Eradication Scheme currently embodies a comprehensive range of measures for farmers who experience a disease breakdown, specifically, compensation for loss of reactors at market value, as well as other targeted income supports. The primary compensation measure available under the TB Eradication scheme is the On Farm Market Valuation scheme. In 2013, my Department paid €10.5m to 3,376 herdowners under this Scheme. In addition, herdowners may also qualify for additional payments under the Income Supplement, Hardship or Depopulation Grant schemes subject to compliance with the criteria applying in each scheme. Grants of €1.5m were paid to 934 herdowners under this scheme in 2013. My Department also paid €0.2m Depopulation Grants to 24 herdowners and €0.475m Hardship Grants to 1100 herdowners in 2013.

The Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Eradication Programme currently embodies re-focused support arrangements for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected (PI) calves from their herds. These measures provide for a €120 payment in respect of disposals of PI calves in suckler herds and payment of €75 towards the disposal of second and subsequent PI female calves born in dairy herds that are disposed of in a timely manner. Both measures are in respect of 2014 born calves and apply for one year only.

In the context of Johne’s Disease, my Department also provided significant additional funding towards the Animal Health Ireland’s Johne’s Disease Pilot Control Programme. One of the most important components of the programme is a veterinary on-farm risk assessment, the objective of which is to provide a framework for the herdowner and his/her nominated veterinary practitioner to identify any farm practices that might constitute a risk of introduction or spread of Johne’s Disease within the farm.

I am satisfied that the arrangements outlined above provide for appropriate compensation in the case of the various diseases and, given the current challenging budgetary situation, I do not foresee the availability of increased financial resources for the schemes.