Animal Diseases Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-16 ============================================================ Seán Kyne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter to be taken and I welcome the Minister of State. The Minister of State knows full well the scourge that is bovine tuberculosis, TB, and the impact it has on farmers and farm families in terms of the emotional stress, financial stress, worry and the heartache that it can bring. I acknowledge the work the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and their Department have done in relation to the bovine TB action plan published during the summer. It has some 30 actions and five high-level headings, namely, to support herds free of bovine TB to remain free; to reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bovine TB; to detect and eliminate bovine TB infection as early as possible in herds with a bovine TB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown; to help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity; and to reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bovine TB. These are all very important. I also acknowledge the work of the Minister and the Minister of State in securing additional funding in the budget to ensure there is adequate compensation for farmers. This is necessary for two reasons. The first is the higher rate of TB in cattle herds and the second is the higher value of animals. The increase in the value of cattle in the last couple of years has been very welcome for farmers, but it has also put additional pressure on the budget. That increase in funding was absolutely necessary. The Minister of State knows that if farmers lose one animal or 5% or 10% of their animals, it is difficult. If they lose a full herd, and there is full depopulation of the herd, that is a huge stress on the family and a huge financial burden. If that herd is a pedigree one, whether it has 20, 30, 40 or 50 animals, that is an additional hit. I understand the reason the Department has a cap on compensation for an individual animal. If a farmers loses a pedigree cow or bull, that is a hit. If a farmer loses the full herd, however, that is a substantial hit because of the cap on compensation for an individual animal. I am asking that consideration be given to having supports for pedigree herds. If there is a full depopulation of a pedigree herd, I am asking that there would be additional compensation for the farmer. I have engaged with certain individuals who have told me that a farmer who loses a herd of 35 or 40 animals could take a hit of over €55,000. That is a huge hit for any farmer. I ask that the Minister of State and the Minister engage with their Department to see if something could be looked at in cases where there is a full depopulation of a pedigree herd. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tuairisc a d'fhoilsigh Roinn an Aire Stáit i rith an tsamhraidh maidir le eitinn bólachta, TB. Tá a fhios agam go mbíonn brú ollmhór ar fheirmeoirí nuair a bhíonn orthu tástáil eitinne a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios agam freisin gur cailliúint mhór í nuair a chaithfidh siad fáil réidh lena gcuid beithígh de bharr an ghalair. Cuirim fáilte roimh an maoiniú breise a bhfuarthas i mbuiséad 2026. Teastaíonn sé seo go géar toisc go bhfuil na huimhreacha TB ag méadú. Tá uasteorainn íocaíochta i bhfeidhm d'fheirmeoirí a bhfuil eitinn ag a gcuid beithígh. Tá sé seo ceart go leor i bhformhór na gcásanna ach, nuair atá an tréad ar fad i gceist, go háirithe nuair is beithígh pedigree iad, tá tionchar níos mó aige seo ó thaobh airgid de. An bhfuil aon phróiseas eile ar fáil do na feirmeoirí seo? The financial hardship is acute on many farmers. I know there are hardship schemes and obviously compensation. The cap that applies to a full depopulation of a pedigree herd needs to be looked at. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-16/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00 Sitting date: 2025-12-16