Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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923. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to assist farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan impacted by avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4782/20]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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924. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he plans to provide to poultry farms that have been affected by avian flu; the measures he will pursue to reduce instances of avian flu; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4822/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 924 together.

The spread of more serious strains of avian influenza in Europe, as well as recent outbreaks of non-notifiable avian influenza here and in Northern Ireland, serve as a reminder to all stakeholders that continued vigilance is needed against avian influenza particularly as we are still within the high risk period for the disease.

The National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) in my Department issues regular updates and advice on avian influenza to all stakeholders including primary producers in the poultry sector. These updates and a range of highly informative and useful information relating to avian influenza can be found on my Department's website at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_influenza/

In relation to the recent incident to which the Deputies refer, there is no legal basis for mandatory compensation in respect of the particular subtype of the disease identified, as it is not of a subtype defined under the relevant EU legislation as notifiable. However, my Department is currently exploring potential for exchequer funding, in the context of the State Aid rules framework, to partially offset the costs of depopulation and rendering for those producers affected.