Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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358. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation available to farmers who have recently had an outbreak of tuberculosis on their farms. [23223/15]

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”. The maximum amount payable in respect of any individual bovine animal removed under the scheme is €2,800, except in respect of one pedigree stock bull per breakdown where a ceiling of €3,500 applies. Both amounts are inclusive of the salvage value paid directly to the farmer by the slaughter plant. 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 s 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. Additional information on the compensation schemes can be found on my Department’s website at