Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

530. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of departmental expenditure allocated in 2016 to provide financial supports for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected animals under the BVD eradication programme; the total amount of funds expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29715/16]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers who have applied in each payment category in 2016 for the removal of persistently infected animals under the BVD eradication programme; the total number of such farmers who have been issued payments to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29716/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.

The financial support arrangements for the BVD eradication 2016 programme are as follows:

Beef Herds

- A payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.

- A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.

Dairy Herds

- A payment of €120 for each dairy breed PI heifer calf born in a dairy herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.

- A reduced payment of €70 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.

Payment of these financial supports is contingent on the disposal of all PI animals born in the herd in the year within the timeframes set down above. Application forms are issued to farmers when they have been identified as having a PI animal. Only one application is necessary regardless of the number of PI animals identified in the herd. The closing date for receipt of application forms in respect of calves born in 2016 is 3 March 2017. Payment will be made after that date. Application forms continue to be issued where PI calves are born.

The amount allocated for BVD support payments in 2016 is €400,000. Expenditure to date in 2016 is €692,845.