Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 2

Written Answers. - TB Eradication Scheme.

Paul Bradford

Question:

123 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in relation to the income supplement operated through the TB eradication scheme, his views on whether the rule which requires a herd owner to have lost at least 10 per cent of his animals before the income supplement is payable causes an unfair burden on those people who may have lost up to 9 per cent of the animals in their herd but get no supplement; his views on the possibility of introducing a graded system of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

Under the TB eradication scheme income supplement is paid in cases where disease breakdown results in the removal of more than 10 per cent of animals in a herd but where depopulation is not deemed appropriate. Payment is in respect of each animal removed from herds in which there are 100 animals or less on the date of restriction. Animals in transient herds or in feed lots do not qualify for income supplement.

By its nature this is not an open-ended scheme and the parameters are devised to make the best use of limited resources and to focus the assistance towards herd-owners who are most in need of it. The normal reactor animal grant is of course payable for each reactor removed. A change in the income supplement arrangement is not envisaged at present.