Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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612. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the level of compensation being paid to farmers who have had tuberculosis reactors in their herd and the fact that the compensation is wholly inadequate; and if he will review the compensation level, given the high levels of tuberculosis in some parts of the country. [19783/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am fully aware of the level of compensation being paid to farmers who have had a TB breakdown and I do not accept that it is inadequate. It is worth noting also that the significant progress being made in the fight against TB means that there are now fewer reactor numbers and fewer herds restricted than before, thus lessening the chances of farmers being impacted by this disease.

The primary compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors. The amount is based on the market value of the animal i.e. the price that might reasonably have been obtained for it, from a purchaser on the open market, if the animal had not been affected by TB. Each reactor is valued by an independent Valuer and my Department pays the difference between this valuation and the salvage value which the farmer receives directly from the slaughter plant.

A review of all the TB Eradication Compensation Schemes was recently completed by my Department. Following that review the maximum ceiling limits, which are payable under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme, for any individual reactor animal removed have been increased. The ceiling for an individual bovine has increased from €2,800 to €3,000. Herdowners are also compensated for the loss of one stock bull per breakdown episode and the ceiling for a pedigree stock bull has increased from €3,500 to €5,000. In addition a new category has been introduced that will compensate up to a maximum €4,000 for the loss of a non-pedigree stock bull.

Herdowners compensated under the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme may also qualify for supplementary payment under the Depopulation, Income Supplement and Hardship Grants Schemes subject to compliance with the relevant criteria. A review of the rates payable and criteria applying to these schemes was also completed and has resulted in significant increases in some of the rates payable. The Income Supplement Scheme has also been expanded ensuring that some herdowners are now receiving compensation where they would not heretofore have qualified. I would note that these supplementary schemes are unique in Ireland and not the norm in other jurisdictions where there is a TB problem. For example in Northern Ireland, England and Wales compensation is only payable for the value of the removed reactor.

In view of the foregoing, I am satisfied that, taking account of the payment from my Department and the price received by the herdowner from the slaughter plant, a farmer, at any given time, receives a level of compensation which adequately reflects the market valuation of reactors, as if they had not been affected by bovine TB and may, in addition, receive additional support where the relevant criteria are met.