The IFA is questioning whether it should remain sitting on the TB forum until the minister moves to address serious issues with the programme.

Pat Farrell, the IFA’s animal health chair, says that there is a need to recognise and address the income loss by dairy farmers in cases where a smaller number of animals are removed.

“The Department pay income support where more than 10% of cows are reactors, they recognise that income loss, but what about the income loss where less than 10% of cows are lost?” he asked.

Farrell also believes it is unfair that farmers are shouldering a higher share of the burden in recent years.

“Since 2012, farmers have paid an extra €4.5m, that’s up 15%. Department funding has slightly fallen, and the EU’s contribution is down 12%.”

As revealed in the Irish Farmers Journal, farmers paid €35.1m towards eradicating TB last year, up from €30.6m in 2012.

The contribution made by the State has remained steady since 2012 at €45.5m. However, the EU’s contribution has dropped from €11m to €9.7m.

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Farmers paying more into TB programme