Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
485. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is the case that when his Department makes an offer to a farmer for TB reactor cattle and the farmer accepts this offer, his Department can refuse to accept the farmers acceptance of the offer made as in the case of a person (details supplied). [22700/24]
View answerMy officials have informed me that the named herdowner entered a TB breakdown on 16th November 2023, when one animal was disclosed as a reactor as a result of the annual TB round test. Since then, 4 further reactor animals have been disclosed as a result of follow up testing, bringing the total number of reactors disclosed to date to 5.
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.
All animals valued as part of the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme are valued by independent livestock valuers. The valuer visits the holding to assess the animals and award values reflective of pricing on the open market.
Both the Department and the herdowner have the right to reject a valuation and seek a second on farm valuation. Alternatively, where a second valuation is rejected by either party, the case will be scheduled for an arbitration hearing.
In order to remove reactor animals from holdings as swiftly as possible, my Department sends a reminder text message to farmers once they have had a valuation to invite them to use the online service where farmers can accept or reject the valuation of their animals on www.agfood.ie. This system provides a digital alternative to returning acceptance/rejection documentation to the Regional Veterinary Office by post.
In this case, the named herdowner accepted the original valuation and my Department rejected the original valuation. A second valuation was arranged. I am informed by my officials that the second valuation was accepted by my Department and was rejected by the named herdowner. This case will be sent to arbitration. An independent arbitration panel will make a final and binding award based on the “market values” principle of the scheme.
