Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols involved when TB is detected on a farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35309/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The protocols involved when TB is detected on a farm are extremely detailed and are set out in the ‘Veterinary Handbook for herd Management in the Bovine TB Eradication Programme’ on my Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie. 

In summary, when TB is detected on a farm, the holding is restricted and a notice of restriction with the relevant conditions attached is served on the keeper. No animals may move off the farm until the herd has been derestricted except to slaughter and no animals may move on to the farm until at least one clear re-test has been completed. Movement permits are generally not required to move non-reactor animal to slaughter but are required for the removal of reactor animals.  

My Department’s veterinary inspectorate carries out a Quality Control inspection of the reactors disclosed and of the test itself as soon as possible after disclosure on holdings with 4 or more reactors. Holdings with less than 4 reactors are selected for inspection on a risk basis. This inspection includes a check on the test site, testing facilities, milk from reactors being withheld from the market, identification issues arising at test, animal remedies administered to reactors, identification of the focus of infection including badger activity etc. The number and type of reactors disclosed will dictate any consequential testing to be carried out but in general the holding will remain restricted until all animals on the holding have had two consecutive clear tests, the first conducted a minimum of 60 days and the second a minimum of 4 months after the removal of the last positive reactor.

With regard to compensation, my Department provides all herdowners whose herd has experienced a TB outbreak with an information pack (‘Information Booklet for Farmers’) giving information in relation to the restriction of the holding and the compensation schemes available. This booklet is also available on my Department’s website.