Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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395. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to improve the timeline from when livestock in a herd have been tested and identified positive with tuberculosis and when these animals are collected and removed from the herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43872/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm the average timeline from when an animal/animals have been tested and identified positive with tuberculosis in a herd and when they are collected and removed from the herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43873/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.

One of the primary disease mitigation measures of the bovine TB eradication programme is the routine surveillance of all bovines for the presence of bovine TB through the use of the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test, more commonly known as the 'skin test' and, if applicable, the removal of “reactor” animals identified in herds. When an animal is tested for bovine tuberculosis the veterinary practitioner makes two visits on separate days to complete the testing cycle.

My Department are notified of test results by the Private Veterinary Practitioner through the Animal Health Computer System. Once eligible reactors have been identified in a herd, the On Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) process begins. The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown on their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of an animal as if they were not affected by disease, subject to ceilings. There are a number of steps in the removal process for which farmers and my Department have shared responsibility.

My Department works closely with stakeholders to identify if and where efficiencies can be made, the following are an example of key functions within the process where my Department make continued improvements ensuring that the appropriate framework supports a timely removals process.

• A Nationwide complement of suitably qualified independent valuers to ensure that valuations are completed efficiently.
• Strict deadlines for independent valuers to communicate their completed valuation reports to both the farmer and my Department for consideration
• The introduction of an electronic submission facility for key documentation allowing the farmer to signal their acceptance/rejection of a valuation
• A dedicated team liaising with approved slaughter plants/knackaries to arrange for the destruction of animals at the earliest opportunity once a farmer has concluded the valuation process
• A nationwide network of independent haulage contractors who operate a comprehensive transport network for animals to their relevant approved slaughter plants daily

There are circumstances outside of my Departments control where the removal of reactor animals must be delayed, such as medicated animals who are observing the appropriate withdrawal period, inconclusive animals who may be required to undergo further Gamma Interferon (GIF) blood testing, and those reactor animals who are 90%+ of gestation who cannot be moved until they have calved on farm. All of these circumstances are also accounted for in average timeframe outlined above.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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397. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration would be given to amending the start date for the loss of income support for a farmer (details supplied), in view that the timeline for the identification of tuberculosis in the herd and the date of collection of the animals and removal from the herd is managed by his Department and not the farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown. A number of financial supports are available to farmers who experience such a breakdown. The main element is the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme which compensates eligible herd-owners up to the market value an individual animal would have attained on the open market at the time of breakdown.

In addition to the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme, there are further supplementary schemes that eligible herdowners can avail of; Income Supplement Scheme, Hardship Grant and Depopulation Grant.

Income Supplement scheme payments are currently paid monthly in arrears and for whole months only. The first whole month commences on the date of reactor removal that triggered eligibility.

As part of the agreement on changes to the compensation schemes under the bovine TB programme reached by the Financial Working Group of the TB Forum, the date of eligiblity for Income Supplement would be the date of restriction, subject to certain conditions. Officials of my Department are currently working on making the necessary IT changes to implement these changes which will be backdated to 1st February 2023. Any herdowners due money as a result of these changes will be paid in due course.