A local senator has called for a dedicated fund to be announced for the poultry farmers impacted by the protection zone around an outbreak of avian influenza.
Earlier this week a case of avian influenza was confirmed on a commercial turkey farm in Co Monaghan. The case comes after two last week in Meath and in Carlow.
A 3km protection zone has been placed around the latest bird flu outbreak, while a national housing order remains in effect for the country.
Senator Robbie Gallagher highlighted that farmers within the zone currently have no income.
He spoke with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Timmy Dooley in the Seanad today.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Senator Gallagher said he called for a fund to be set up to support farmers.
He said: "As things stand at the moment, farmers within the protection zone are not allowed, and they perfectly understand why, to bring any new birds in.
"But they have to keep those houses at a certain temperature in order to be able to accept flocks whenever they do come in, and there's a cost attached to that.
"Those people are sitting on their hands at the moment, and can do nothing. They have no income coming in, but they have costs associated. Currently as things stand, there is no compensation measures for those.
"One of my key asks today, was that that particular issue be looked at, so that a fund can be set up where producers, farmers, and the department can pay into, so that there is a fund available that farmers can tap into in times like this," Senator Gallagher added.
