Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
389. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify if prices paid to farmers for TB reactors are reported to his Department on a weekly basis; if so, his views on whether this distorts the prices paid on average as his Department pays compensation to recognise the accurate value of such cattle which is not reflected in weekly reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48700/26]
View answerUnder the Bovine TB Eradication programme, the principal compensation scheme available to herds who experience a bTB breakdown is the "On Farm Market Valuation" scheme. The scheme compensates affected herd owners up to the market value of their animals being removed under the scheme (subject to scheme ceilings).
In order to ensure that accurate market values are awarded as part of the scheme, my Department provides affected farmers with a list of independent livestock valuers operating in their region to choose from, the chosen independent valuer visits the farm and assesses each reactor animal individually on their merits.
My Department provide Valuers with the "Summary of Market Prices" (SMP) on a weekly basis. Technical officers from my Department record sales data from a variety of sales nationally, this is then analysed and compiled into the SMP to ensure that values awarded under the scheme are reflective of current open market pricing.
The prices paid to farmers for bTB reactors slaughtered on approved premises are provided to my Department who then pay the balance of the Market Valuation of the animal as determined by the Independent Valuer, subject to OFMV scheme ceilings, less the factory price received by the farmer.
My Department does not have any role or influence in the process of valuing animals under the scheme, this process is wholly independent. My Department is given the right to appeal valuations just as affected herdowner/keepers have such a right.
The On-Farm Market Value arbitration process is used when a herdowner or my Department disagree with the appeal valuation of the animals that are due to be removed because of bTB. An independent expert panel will review the case and decide on the final value.
In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on their farm
The Income Supplement Scheme is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown. Income supplement is only payable in cases where the 9.5% threshold is met in one continuous restriction period and where full Depopulation is not deemed an appropriate measure.
The Hardship Grant is a targeted scheme aimed at assisting eligible herd-owners who retain and feed animals during prolonged periods of restriction as a result of a TB breakdown and that have more animals than the same period in the previous year. The scheme runs each year for herds restricted between November 1st and April 30th.
Depopulation Grant is paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measure and for those herds that are partial or fully depopulated on foot of a veterinary decision made on analysis of the overall TB disease situation within a herd.
As part of the work of the TB Forum, a dedicated Financial Working Group was established to review the financial modelling of various elements of the Bovine TB Eradication programme. As a result of the agreement reached in this Group, over the last two years there were rate enhancements to the Income Supplement Scheme, the Hardship Grant and the Depopulation Grant as well as enhanced ceilings for select animals being removed as part of the On Farm Market Valuation.
Due to the increased cost of the bTB programme in recent years, the focus at present is on reducing the levels of disease which will reduce the impact of bTB on Irish farm families and reduce the cost of the programme which has risen to over €121 million in 2025.
