Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

979. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are delays in TB compensation payments; if so, the action that is being taken to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49068/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The continued increase in bTB disease levels in recent years has resulted in signficant additional work in the administration of the bTB programme for my Department. There has been an increase in the volume of bTB Compensation payments that resulted in a temporary backlog in payments. This backlog has been cleared with the remainder of payments being paid yesterday. It may take a number of days for payments to reach farmers’ bank accounts.

We need to decrease bTB disease levels to ensure that the impact this disease has on farm families both financially and emotionally is lessened

On 9th September I published the “Bovine TB Action Plan, Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland”

There are 5 measures in the Plan which are underpinned by 30 actions:

1. Support herds free of bTB to remain free
2. Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
3. Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a bTB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
4. Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity
5. Reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bTB