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.
In March 2023, this Financial Working Group reached agreement on various 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.
The enhancement of rates is linked to an increased contribution of farmer levies towards additional expenditure on these schemes. All of the agreed changes will be backdated to February 1st 2023.
In addition to the enhancement of rates, the financial working group also expanded the eligibility criteria under the Income Supplement Scheme and Hardship Grant Schemes. Herds in receipt of Income Supplement prior to February 2023 were eligible for payment from the date the reactor animals removed from their holding reached 10% of the overall herd. Payments were also made in respect of whole months only.
I am pleased to confirm that as part of the agreement of the Financial Working Group, from February 1st 2023 onwards, herds will be eligible for Income Supplement from the date where 10% or more of their herd are identified as reactors and payments will now include pro rata rates in respect of partial months.
The agreed enhancements to the 4 schemes requires substantial IT development. My Departments IT team are at an advanced stage of these upgrade works and it is envisaged that the updated systems will be operational in the coming weeks. Once the new IT system is operational, my department will identify all eligible herds and automatically issue balancing payments in due course.
