The Department of Agriculture is currently considering a case for financial supports to poultry farmers hit by bird flu in Co Monaghan.

There is no legal basis for mandatory compensation, the Department said, as the strain of bird flu in question was not defined under relevant EU legislation. The business case being considered is to partially offset the costs of culling and rendering affected flocks.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal earlier this week, IFA poultry chair Andy Boylan said farmers had been waiting for a response from the Department on proposals for a compensation scheme for a number of weeks.

Culling

The presence of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) of the H6N1 subtype has now been confirmed in 10 flocks - eight table egg laying flocks and two turkey flocks. A further suspect case is being investigated in another layer flock.

The strain of bird flu in question is not of public health concern. If a flock becomes infected with the disease, it dramatically reduces egg production and quality.

However, culls of infected flocks have taken place to limit the spread of the disease to other farms.

The Department said it was working closely with representatives of the poultry sector and flockowners to discuss measures necessary to control the outbreak. It praised the sector’s response, saying the industry had acted promptly in voluntarily culling the affected flocks.