The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has today launched an 8 week consultation to seek views on a proposal to reduce the compensation rate for cattle removed under the bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) programme.
The consultation follows a direction from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, instructing Northern Ireland departments to launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability and raise additional revenue.
Views are bring sought on whether the amount of compensation payable should be reduced on a phased basis, with a reduction to 90% of the bovine animal’s market value in the first year of implementation with a further reduction to 75% of the animal’s market value a year later.
The consultation will be open from the 12 January until 8 March. To view the consultation documents and respond please visit the DAERA website.
Notes to editors:
- The Secretary of State’s direction of 20 September to departments to launch consultations can be viewed here.
- In October, the Department of Finance published a document setting out the financial context for the upcoming revenue raising consultation. Information on this can be found here.
- Download information on other departmental consultations.
- Under the Tuberculosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 (as amended), the Department is currently required to pay compensation for bovines removed for bTB control at 100% of each animal’s market value. The cost of this compensation in 2022/23 financial year was just over £38million.
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