The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has said it is currently working on necessary IT work “to ensure any balancing payments owed to farmers” in relation to the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) Eradication Scheme are calculated and issued as soon as possible”.
In February 2023, an increase in compensation rates for farmers whose herds go down with bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was agreed.
Despite this, owners of herds that went down with bTB before February 29, 2024, continued to receive the old rate of payment under the bTB income supplement scheme.
In April of this year, DAFM clarified to Agriland:
“Considering the complexity of the changes to the scheme, the herds who were receiving the old rates while the necessary IT development work was being carried out, will receive balancing payments when they exit restriction.”
According to the DAFM, the reason for this is “to ensure that they receive accurate payments”.
The current rates of compensation according to DAFM are as follows:
- Income supplement monthly rates:
- Dairy (old rate €55) – new rate of €100 for first five months after calving and €65 for six to 10 months after calving;
- Suckler (old rate €38.09) – new rate of €52 for first seven months after calving and €40 for eight to 12 months after calving;
- Other (old rate €25.39) – new rate of €30.
- Depopulation grant:
- Dairy (old rate €220) – new rate of €280;
- Suckler (old rate €152.36) – new rate of €180;
- Other (old rate €76.16) – new rate of €120.
- Hardship grant monthly rates:
- Suckler (old rate €38) – new rate €50;
- Dairy/other (old rate €25) – new rate €30.
A statement from the DAFM to Agriland earlier this month, outlined the current state of play as regards the issuing of balancing payments under the bTB scheme.
DAFM said: “As a result of changes to the compensation schemes agreed as part of the Financial Working Group of the TB Forum in 2023, significant work on IT systems was required to incorporate these complex changes.
“The agreed changes to the Depopulation Grant and Hardship Grant schemes went live on December 7, 2023.
“The agreed changes to the Income Supplement scheme went live on February 29, 2024 for herds entering breakdown from that date onwards.
“The department is currently working on the necessary IT work to ensure any balancing payments owed to farmers are calculated and issued as soon as possible.”