Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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570. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the TB eradication scheme compensation amounts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9469/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm.

The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to Herd-owners whose herds are affected by a bovine TB breakdown in 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.

In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on their farm

The Income Supplement Scheme is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown. Income supplement is only payable in cases where the 9.5% threshold is met in one continuous restriction period and where full Depopulation is not deemed an appropriate measure.

The Hardship Grant is a targeted scheme aimed at assisting eligible herd-owners who retain and feed animals during prolonged periods of restriction as a result of a TB breakdown and that have more animals than the same period in the previous year. The scheme runs each year for herds restricted between November 1st and April 30th.

Depopulation Grant is paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measure and for those herds that are partial or fully depopulated on foot of a veterinary decision made on analysis of the overall TB disease situation within a herd.

As part of the work of the TB Forum, a dedicated Financial Working Group was established to review the financial modelling of various elements of the Bovine TB Eradication programme. As a result of the agreement reached in this Group, there were rate enhancements to the Income Supplement Scheme, the Hardship Grant and the Depopulation Grant as well as enhanced ceilings for select animals being removed as part of the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme.

In addition, the Financial Working Group also expanded the eligibility criteria under the Income Supplement Scheme and Hardship Grant Schemes.

I am committed to reducing TB incidence rates across the country. Recent years has unfortunately seen a deterioration in the incidence of this disease, however all stakeholders and I are working collaboratively to ensure that we all ensure all steps necessary to control this disease are taken. We must keep this going with the ultimate aim of eradicating TB from the herd.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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571. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the sheep welfare scheme; when it will be open for applications in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Reflecting their importance to the rural economy, there will be two dedicated supports for sheep farmers in operation again this year.

In addition to the CSP Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), which is worth some €20 million annually to sheep farmers, a sum of €22 million was allocated for the continuation and expansion of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) measures in Budget 2025. The increased funding will provide for an additional €5 breeding ewe payment bringing the total scheme payment rate for participants to €13 per ewe this year.

Increasing the existing NSWS payment rate will ensure that, when combined with the €12 per ewe available to sheep farmers under the SIS, participants in both schemes will be eligible to receive a combined payment of €25 per ewe in 2025. This is a 150% increase in funding from €10 to €25 and is by far the largest payment ever made to sheep farmers.

The objective of the NSWS 2025 is to further enhance animal health and welfare on sheep farms and it is expected that it will contain similar measures to those in last year’s scheme with an additional voluntary action worth €5 to be completed to drawdown the maximum payment per eligible ewe.

My Department is engaged in ongoing consultations with stakeholders on the design and implementation of the 2025 NSWS as part of general discussions on livestock supports that will be operational in 2025. All proposed scheme actions are subject to EU rules governing state aid for agriculture as well as sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

I will be in a position to announce further details on the new scheme once the approval process has concluded.