Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
398. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has considered a compensation package for farmers affected by outbreaks of TB; his views on whether it is unfair that farmers whose herds are affected must cover the costs incurred as a result; if he will consider a compensation package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41021/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarmers affected by outbreaks of TB are covered by the TB Compensation Scheme. This includes the On-farm Market Valuation (OFMV) Scheme, Income Supplement, Depopulation Grant and the Hardship Grant
The principal compensation mechanism is the OFMV Scheme. This is an indemnity payment per reactor animal removed. This is paid at a rate that the farmer would ordinarily expect to achieve on the open market if the animal was not diseased.
In addition, my Department operates a number of supplementary compensation schemes:
- Income Supplement is a payment per month per animal, subject to certain criteria, recognising consequential income lost due to their being removed as a reactor.
- The Hardship Grant is a monthly payment between the months of November and April to assist with feeding costs for farmers locked up with animals they can’t sell over the winter period.
- The Depopulation Grant is a payment to those farmers who agree to have their herds depopulated and remain restricted for a period of time.
These supplementary schemes are unique to Ireland. In other jurisdictions with TB programmes including Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, compensation is only paid in respect of reactors removed. Expenditure on compensation under the TB Programme is expected to be €21 million this year representing an increase of over €2.5 million (14%) relative to 2019.
