Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
38. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to reduce the timeline from when livestock in a herd have been tested and identified positive with tuberculosis and when these animals are removed from the herd, in view that the current average timeline is 17.3 calendar days from the date of test to the date of removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55312/23]
View answerOne of the primary disease mitigation measures of the bovine TB eradication programme is the routine surveillance of all bovines for the presence of bovine TB through the use of the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test, more commonly known as the 'skin test' and, if applicable, the removal of “reactor” animals identified in herds. When an animal is tested for bovine tuberculosis the veterinary practitioner makes two visits on separate days to complete the testing cycle.
My Department is notified of test results by the Private Veterinary Practitioner through the Animal Health Computer System. Once eligible reactors have been identified in a herd, the On Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) process begins. The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown on their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of an animal as if they were not affected by disease, subject to ceilings. There are a number of steps in the removal process for which farmers and my Department have shared responsibility.
My Department works closely with stakeholders to identify if, and where efficiencies can be made. The following are an example of key functions within the process where my Department make continued improvements ensuring that the appropriate framework supports a timely removals process.
• A Nationwide complement of suitably qualified independent valuers to ensure that valuations are completed efficiently.
• Strict deadlines for independent valuers to communicate their completed valuation reports to both the farmer and my Department for consideration
• The introduction of an electronic submission facility for key documentation allowing the farmer to signal their acceptance/rejection of a valuation.
• A dedicated team liaising with approved slaughter plants/knackeries to arrange for the destruction of animals at the earliest opportunity once a farmer has concluded the valuation process.
• A nationwide network of independent haulage contractors who operate a comprehensive transport network for animals to their relevant approved slaughter plants daily.
To date in 2023, 27,314 animals, which is 20.2% more than the same point in 2022 have been removed as part of the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme. Despite the logistical challenges of removing considerably more animals, my Department officials have managed to reduce the removal time by almost half a day when compared to the same point in 2022. The national average removal time from test to slaughter is now 17.8 days, which has reduced from the 18.2 days recorded at the same point in 2022.
There are circumstances outside of my Departments control where the removal of reactor animals must be delayed, such as appeal cases where either party seeks a second live valuation of the affected animals before their removal, medicated animals who are observing the appropriate withdrawal period, inconclusive animals who may be required to undergo further Gamma Interferon (GIF) blood testing, and those reactor animals who are 90%+ of gestation and on animal health and welfare grounds, cannot be moved until they have calved on farm. All of these circumstances are also accounted for in the average timeframe outlined above.
