Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the compensation payment made to farmers who have tuberculosis reactors in their herds as same has remained unaltered for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3845/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme which provides, in general, for compensation for cattle removed as reactors to be paid on the basis of current “Market Value”. Thus the level of compensation provided reflects the real market situation at any given time and is therefore self-updating. In addition to valuation payments, herdowners who experience a disease breakdown may also qualify for compensation under the Income Supplement, Depopulation or Hardship Grant Schemes, subject to the terms and conditions applying in each case. Payments under these schemes are designed to compensate herdowners for income losses or additional cost incurred by farmers who have animals removed as reactors.

Total expenditure on compensation paid to farmers in 2014 under the TB eradication scheme amounted to €15.2m. I am satisfied that the current arrangements, which provide a very comprehensive range of financial supports to herdowners whose herds are restricted as a result of a TB breakdown in their herd, are appropriate, particularly in prevailing budgetary circumstances.