Compensation Payments.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2004

Tuesday, 3 February 2004

Questions (121)

Billy Timmins

Question:

250 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is adequately compensated for their herd which is being depopulated under the bovine TB eradication scheme; and the reason his Department has not accepted CAP certificate which proves that the herd concerned has an average milk yield of 1,412 gallons per cow, which under the national system entitles the farmer to maximum compensation. [3009/04]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Under the terms of the on-farm market valuation scheme which was agreed following protracted negotiations with the farming organisations, individual dairy cow records are used in determining valuation if the herd has been milk recorded. Therefore, as the herd in this case has been milk recorded, the individual yield and not the average milk yield of the herd must apply for valuation purposes.

The first valuation has recently been received by my Department and is being examined. Under the terms of this scheme, either party can reject the first valuation. Where this happens, a second valuation will be urgently carried out but the same individual milk production records must be used.