Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
405. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 3 October 2023 and the case of goat milk farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44190/23]
View answerThere is no statutory surveillance or control programme for TB in goats in Ireland, as there is in cattle. Whilst there is a compensation scheme available to eligible herdowners of bovines in the event of a TB outbreak, funded in part from disease levies collected on milk supplies and and bovines slaughtered or exported live, there is no compensation scheme available to, or collection of disease levies from goat owners.
A goat herd keeper who is supplying milk, including for trade, to consumers must test his/her herd for TB and have a TB control plan in place. This is a public health requirement. This plan is subject to re-submission every three to five years.
It may also be necessary to test goat herds for TB as part of an epidemiological investigation into, or as part of controlling, a bovine TB breakdown in an area.
The herd in question has had a number of TB reactors and the local regional veterinary office is working with the herd owner in managing this unfortunate disease outbreak.
My officials have examined all payments made in the period in question and there is no evidence that any payment made under the TB Schemes was made in relation to a goat herd.
If you wish to provide my Department (with the expressed permission of the herdowners named) with any evidence available to you that indicates payments were made to the above named persons in relation to goats, my officials will examine this further.
