The cost of eradicating TB from the country is in the region of €90m per annum. Figures obtained by the Irish Farmers Journal reveal Department of Agriculture salaries are double that of the money farmers get in compensation.

Farmers who incur the direct cost burden of the programme receive less than €15m in compensation payments, while vets avail of almost €10m annually from the Department for testing restricted tests.

Commenting on the cost of the programme, IFA animal health chair Bert Stewart said: “The overall cost of the programme is made up of €64m in running costs and €25m in testing charges to farmers, bringing the total annual cost of the programme to almost €90m. It’s in the interests of farmers and the Exchequer that the eradication process is speeded up to free up these resources for farm schemes”.

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