Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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790. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the level of financial support available to farmers faced with a positive identification, PI, under the BVD eradication programme given that the costs of disposal of an infected calf and the replacement of the animal is in the region of €500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26702/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The farming community stands to gain approximately €100 million per annum from the eradication of BVD. Notwithstanding these gains which fall exclusively to the farming community, my Department provides a system of supports towards the removal of persistently infected (PI) calves.

The financial supports available for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected BVD calves born in 2016 provide for an increased payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is shown to be disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test.  A reduced payment of €90 applies in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test.  For dairy herds, the focus of the supports available is on the loss of the dairy breed heifer calf where there is a payment of €120 for each PI calf born and disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test.  A reduced payment of €70 applies in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test.

In addition to the financial supports for removal of PI calves, my Department has committed to continue to provide, free of charge, a blood based test to confirm the PI status of those calves that give a positive test result on tag testing. The Department is also providing a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of PI cows.