Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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2452. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will quantify the extent of the avian flu impact on the Irish poultry sector for each of the past five years; the financial supports available from his Department on this matter; his views on the desirability of a poultry health fund for the sector and the possibility of insurance cover against such disease incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18455/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by the poultry industry in regard to an Avian Influenza outbreak. Over the past five years, there has been one case of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N8) and 14 cases of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H6N1) which have affected the poultry industry, both of which occurred in 2020.

I would like to advise the Deputy of the financial support that has been provided by my Department to operators that were affected by disease outbreaks during 2020. In relation to the outbreak of Low Pathogenic H6N1 Avian Influenza outbreak in early 2020, my Department provided once-off ex gratia support, which was made available to all affected operators and all those that applied have now received payments from the Department. While no legal basis exists for a mandatory compensation scheme under EU legislation in respect of Low Pathogenic H6N1 Avian Influenza, my Department successfully secured financial support for the affected farmers.

Regarding the December 2020 outbreak of Highly Pathogenic H5N8 Avian Influenza, the Animal Health and Welfare Act, No. 15 of 2013 does allow me, as Minister, to support farmers in the event of outbreaks of certain diseases which includes Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and this provision is currently being availed of. The applications for compensation are being progressed and payments are expected to issue shortly.

In addition, some excellent supports are already in place such as the use of the RDP-funded Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health measure for assessing farm level biosecurity risks that is available at no cost to poultry farmers, as well as support for on-farm capital investment under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II) scheme and knowledge transfer and innovation measures, aimed at underpinning farm viability, sustainability and growth through the adoption of best practice and innovative solutions.

My officials continue to evaluate what additional measures could be utilised, within the context of existing national and EU legislation, to support the industry as much as possible in their pursuit of establishing a funding support system for use by the industry in the face of poultry disease challenges. I fully understand the sector’s aim to seek mitigation, as far as possible, of the risks that are faced by its members, and where possible to provide some reassurance to them. I support this aim.

My Department has been and will continue to engage with representatives of the poultry sector, to seek to ensure that outbreaks of avian influenza are continually dealt with in a timely and effective manner. Engagement in regards to the Poultry Working Groups (PWG) proposal for a health fund for the sector are ongoing and my officials will be meeting members of the PWG in the near future to update industry on the continuing work being undertaken by my Department on all matters raised.