Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1015. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if adequate financial support will be provided for farmers to ensure they are not disadvantaged when TB controls are imposed on their farms. [36944/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The bovine TB eradication Scheme is an example of a shared animal health programme administered by my Department to the benefit of all related stakeholders. Thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders, bovine TB levels have reduced significantly in recent years. Herd incidence stood at 8% in 2000 and was under 3.5% in 2017. This represents considerable progress. In the absence of a robust TB eradication Scheme, many more farmers would have suffered a TB breakdown. When a breakdown occurs, certain controls are put in place in an effort to eradicate the disease from that holding and to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading to other holdings. These controls are critical and are to the overall benefit of farmers. While much progress has been made in reducing bovine TB levels, I am concerned that previously observed downward trends in disease levels may have stalled. In an effort to deliver on my stated objective of eradicating bovine TB by 2030, government has approved the establishment of a TB Stakeholder Forum with an independent Chair who have been tasked with bringing forward proposals consistent with eradicating TB by 2030. I look forward to considering these proposals in due course.

In relation to compensation, a comprehensive regime is in place for herdowners who are affected by bovine TB, including compensation both for direct and indirect losses.

The primary compensation scheme for TB Affected herds is the On-Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors on thebasis of the open market value, subject to certain ceiling limits. Herdowners with restricted and TB affected Herds may also qualify for supplementary payments under the Income Supplement and Hardship Grants Schemes subject to compliance with the relevant criteria.

Entitlement to compensation is conditional on herdowners complying with the provisions of National and EU legislative requirements and controls relating to animal welfare, disease, movement and identification.

There have been significant changes to the compensation package which were implemented in 2016 and I am satisfied that the current compensation arrangements provide a very significant range of financial supports to herdowners in a TB breakdown.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1016. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to the TB eradication and support programme in each of the years 2010 to 2018; and the amount expended in each year and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [36945/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Following is a table setting out the actual expenditure from the Exchequer on the TB and Brucellosis eradication programmes from 2010 to date.

*as at 03/09/18

As the cost of the eradication programme is significantly dependent on (i) the number of the reactors disclosed and (ii) the actual price of cattle in any given year – both of which may vary significantly - the budgetary allocation made available within the overall animal health and welfare area is managed to ensure sufficient funds are available to deliver the necessary programme measures. Please note that the reference point for budgetary planning for the eradication programmes is notionally set based on the outcome from the previous year.