Danny Healy-Rae warns of TB outbreaks in Kerry, seeks higher compensation
Danny Healy-Rae raised urgent concerns about TB outbreaks in Kerry and urged an increase to the compensation ceiling, currently limited to 3,000 euros, to help farmers replace lost hybrid dairy and sucker cows. He also flagged delays to ACRES payments and warned they could compound farmers' financial strain.
He said the county, especially East Kerry, is facing outbreaks of bovine TB that are affecting local herds and prompting widespread concern among farmers.
He asked for the ceiling cap on compensation to be raised above the current 3,000 euros, saying farmers fear for their financial future and will not be able to buy back hybrid dairy and hybrid sucker cows at that level.
The Secretary replied that the Minister recently announced a Bovine TB action plan comprising five measures underpinned by 30 actions. The Secretary noted the TB programme cost 101 million euros in 2024, a 34% increase on 2023, and said 2025 will be higher; they added they would speak to the Minister about the compensation ceiling while most resources are being directed to managing the disease.
He also raised that a number of farmers have not yet received their ACRES payments and expressed hope there would not be a repetition of earlier payment delays this year.
TB outbreaks in Kerry
He said the county, especially East Kerry, is facing outbreaks of bovine TB that are affecting local herds and prompting widespread concern among farmers.
Compensation ceiling and replacement costs
He asked for the ceiling cap on compensation to be raised above the current 3,000 euros, saying farmers fear for their financial future and will not be able to buy back hybrid dairy and hybrid sucker cows at that level.
Government response and programme costs
The Secretary replied that the Minister recently announced a Bovine TB action plan comprising five measures underpinned by 30 actions. The Secretary noted the TB programme cost 101 million euros in 2024, a 34% increase on 2023, and said 2025 will be higher; they added they would speak to the Minister about the compensation ceiling while most resources are being directed to managing the disease.
ACRES payments and farmer concerns
He also raised that a number of farmers have not yet received their ACRES payments and expressed hope there would not be a repetition of earlier payment delays this year.
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Transcript
I wish to raise with you today the TB outbreaks in Kerry. We're actually ravaged with outbreaks of TB, especially in East Kerry. The question that many farmers are coming and raising with me is for an increase to the ceiling cap for compensation, which is limited to 3,000 euros at present. They're fearing for their financial future because they won't be able to buy back-in cows for that, especially the number of hybrid dairy cows and hybrid sucker cows that will cost away more to replace. And they're asking, can something be done to raise that ceiling? I'm sorry the Minister for Agriculture is gone, but I know he was here all morning since it's adopted. And the other question is, there's a number of people coming now that haven't received their Acres payments yet. I hope that there won't be a repetition of what happened this year. First of all, Deputy, this is a very serious issue, the spread of TB, and as you know, the Minister recently announced a major initiative in respect of TB, the Bovine TB action plan addressing bovine TB in Ireland. And there were five measures in that plan underpinned by 30 actions. On the specific issue of compensation and the rate increase, it has continued to increase every year the cost of the TB program. In 2024, it totaled 101 million. That was 34% up on 2023, and 2025 will be higher again. And okay, that's because of increased disease levels, but it is additional cost on the program. I will talk to the Minister in respect of the specific issue of the level, the minimum ceiling cap for compensation. But the bulk of the resources have gone towards managing the disease and trying to resource the managing of the disease. Thank you, Secretary.