Farmers could be in line to pay more for TB testing as the Department of Agriculture seeks to balance the books.

The TB programme cost is set to hit €100m this year, up 15% in the last five years.

The Department has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis by Grant Thornton, due to be published in October, to help design what it calls a new “sustainable funding model”.

This year, the Government will pay approximately 57% of the cost, farmers 36% and the EU 6%

Senior Department official Colm Forde said that while farmers contribute significantly through testing fees and levies, no formal funding model has ever been set in stone.

The main costs are testing, Department staffing and compensation payments. This year, the Government will pay approximately 57% of the cost, farmers 36% and the EU 6%.

TB has become an industry and farmers are sick of paying for it

The Department’s share has increased by €13m to €55m, farmer contributions are up €2.5m to €34.5m and EU funding has fallen from €10m to €5.4m.

However, the IFA estimates that farmers contribute an extra €20m in labour.

Its president Tim Cullinan said: “TB has become an industry and farmers are sick of paying for it. The new minister will have to get a grip of this. Farmers need to be paying less, not more.”