The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided an update on progress regarding the issuing of backdated bovine tuberculosis (bTB) Eradication Scheme balancing payments for herds that were on the the old rates of Income Supplement and have exited restriction.
In response to a query from Agriland on progress in issuing the relevant payments to affected farmers, DAFM said on Friday, December 13 that:
“Arrangements for the calculation of balancing payments for herds who received the old rates of Income Supplement whilst restricted are being finalised to ensure balancing payments issue as soon as possible.”
The issue has been ongoing since February 2023 when an increase in compensation rates for farmers whose herds go down with bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was agreed.
It was outlined at the time that the 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”.
In August 2024, Agriland asked DAFM for an update on the issuing of these payments.
DAFM’s response was: “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.”
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.
While the latest update from DAFM on the issuing of these payments has not outlined a specific date when affected herds will receive balancing payments, DAFM has said arrangements “are being finalised” to ensure these payments can be issued “as soon as possible”.