asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has reconsidered the question of retrospective compensation for herd-owners in County Meath and elsewhere who suffered exceptionally heavy losses in income as a result of the brucellosis eradication scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.
39.
I do not propose to alter the present basis of compensation for reactors taken up by my Department under the brucellosis eradication scheme.
Is the Minister aware that a limited number of herd-owners have suffered exceptional losses? Men who spent their lifetimes building up herds now find themselves with milk cheques of almost negligible proportions. Would the Minister consider examining these hardship cases with a view to seeing if anything can be done to help?
I am aware, that there have been some exceptional cases. I am also aware that special provision by way of low interest loans has been made available to enable these people to replenish their herds. Some exceptional measures have been taken in easement of the regulations for the isolation and replacement of herds. I think the steps we have taken are adequate. Brucellosis is a very serious scourge for anybody unfortunate enough to get the infection into his herd but I would remind the Deputy that, until the introduction of the eradication scheme, those who were so unfortunate got no compensation at all.
Would the Minister agree that Meath was used as a guinea pig in this scheme as the first intensive milk area and Meath people should not suffer for the particular problems which arise elswhere and which were not foreseen? Would the Minister further agree that the measures to which he refers, while they are useful from the point of view of the future, are of no use to people whose money is now gone because of their not being able to supply milk and, therefore, not receiving any milk cheques? It is those who have suffered that are of concern.
I do not deny that a limited number have suffered losses but, if you begin to indemnify people against a scourge like brucellosis, I do not think you will ever get to the end of the eradication of brucellosis at all.