Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
397. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration would be given to amending the start date for the loss of income support for a farmer (details supplied), in view that the timeline for the identification of tuberculosis in the herd and the date of collection of the animals and removal from the herd is managed by his Department and not the farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown. A number of financial supports are available to farmers who experience such a breakdown. The main element is the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme which compensates eligible herd-owners up to the market value an individual animal would have attained on the open market at the time of breakdown.
In addition to the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme, there are further supplementary schemes that eligible herdowners can avail of; Income Supplement Scheme, Hardship Grant and Depopulation Grant.
Income Supplement scheme payments are currently paid monthly in arrears and for whole months only. The first whole month commences on the date of reactor removal that triggered eligibility.
As part of the agreement on changes to the compensation schemes under the bovine TB programme reached by the Financial Working Group of the TB Forum, the date of eligiblity for Income Supplement would be the date of restriction, subject to certain conditions. Officials of my Department are currently working on making the necessary IT changes to implement these changes which will be backdated to 1st February 2023. Any herdowners due money as a result of these changes will be paid in due course.
