Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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704. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation available to a person (details supplied) who had to cull sheep; if compensation is available to restock the flock and for up until the restocking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21254/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland implements surveillance and control measures in relation to BSE in bovines and scrapie in sheep in accordance with the terms of Regulation (EC) 999/2001. These measures include the testing of 20,000 sheep over the age of 18 months for the presence of scrapie each year. Tests are carried out on 10,000 fallen (knackery) animals and 10,000 animals slaughtered for human consumption. Control measures in Ireland have been effective as evidenced by a decreasing trend in the number of classical scrapie cases, with just one in 2015 and one to date this year. In cases of classical scrapie, genotyping of the flock and depopulation of sheep most susceptible to scrapie is practised. All animals in the flock found to have reduced resistance to scrapie are removed for destruction outside the food chain and compensation at market value is paid to the flock owner. A top up payment of €84 is also made to the flock owner for each breeding ewe destroyed, to take account of loss of future income.  This is paid when all affected sheep have left the holding and are destroyed.