Written answers
Tuesday, 3 October 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Animal Diseases
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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472. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a case (details supplied); if the Minister is aware that since the identification of TB reactors in their herd, they have been unable to trade and are experiencing extreme financial hardship; the reasons they have been informed by the Department that they cannot claim any TB support payments; what financial support schemes are made available to goat milk farmers to assist in reducing the burden and costs associated with TB breakouts on such farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42221/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is no statutory surveillance or control programme for TB in goats in Ireland, as there is in cattle. Whilst there is a compensation scheme available to eligible herdowners of bovines in the event of a TB outbreak, funded in part from disease levies collected on milk supplies and and bovines slaughtered or exported live, there is no compensation scheme available to or collection of disease levies from goat owners.
A goat herd keeper who is supplying milk, including for trade, to consumers must test his/her herd for TB however and have a TB control plan in place. This is a public health requirement. This plan is subject to re-submission every three to five years.
It may also be necessary to test goat herds for TB as part of an epidemiological investigation into, or as part of controlling, a bovine TB breakdown in an area.
The herd in question has had a number of TB reactors and the local regional veterinary office is working with the herd owner in managing this unfortunate disease outbreak.
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