Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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931. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of proposals for the inclusion of the Irish poultry sector under the remit of an organisation (details supplied) which includes beef and sheep only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50724/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has been engaging with the poultry sector to make progress on this issue and has expressed its support in principle for the establishment of a health programme for the poultry sector delivered by the organisation mentioned. This would operate in partnership with the poultry sector and has excellent potential to improve the overall health of the national flock, as well as the standard of biosecurity on farms, thus reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.

The organisation's programmes operate on the public private partnership principle which would see funding from the poultry sector being matched by funding provided by the Department.

The Deputy will be aware that the Department currently provides a significant level of publicly-funded support to the poultry sector.

- The National Poultry Health Programme (PHP) for the detection of Avian Influenza, Mycoplasma and Salmonella. 

- The EU Poultry Surveillance Scheme of testing for Avian Influenza .

- Surveillance carried out as part of the National Salmonella Control Programme

- The national passive surveillance system which requires mandatory disease reporting to DAFM.

- A fully funded independent farm biosecurity assessment, for broiler and layer farmers currently delivered under the TASAH programme.

- A fully funded National Residue Control Programme supporting market access for poultry products.

- Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) grant aid available up to 60% for eligible young farmers and 40% for all other farmers.

- Compensation measures in place for poultry farms depopulated as a result of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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932. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the proposal for the establishment of a fund co-financed by industry and Government for the Irish poultry industry, similar to the Dutch animal health fund (details supplied) in order to improve disease control and mitigate financial impacts on Irish poultry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is fully cognisant of the very significant financial burden imposed on flock owners in the case of a disease outbreak.  My Officials have held several meetings with the Poultry Working Group, a representative group of the Poultry Industry, between March 2020 and July 2021.  The objective of these meetings was to get a clear understanding of the PWG’s proposal.

My Officials have conducted a review of the feasibility of establishing a co-financed fund as well as an evaluation of the Dutch Animal Health Fund Model. It is clear that Ireland’s current disease aid framework already provides many of the benefits of the Dutch Animal Health Fund, and in contrast to the situation for Dutch poultry farmers, does so without the requirement for a levy to be paid by Irish poultry producers into a disease fund.

The Department’s review of the PWG proposal is in the final stages of completion. A central consideration is whether a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, a key component of the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy, is a more cost effective and a more responsible use of state funds as a support to industry.

My Officials have identified existing and additional measures which could be utilised to support the industry as much as possible to mitigate the risk of disease occurring in the first place.  One example of such a measure is my Department’s commitment to co-finance an Animal Health Ireland Poultry Health Programme in a public/private partnership with the poultry sector.

The Department remains committed and fully engaged in providing a wide range of supportive measures in ensuring the industry can operate successfully in challenging circumstances.