James O'Connor
Question:98. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the concrete measures he is taking to tackle the spread of bovine TB. [36653/25]
View answerThursday, 3 July 2025
Questions (98)
Written answers
Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate despite everyone's efforts.
Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. As of 22nd June 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.43 % with over 43,455 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families both financially and emotionally throughout rural Ireland.
Following extensive discussions at the TB Forum, I met TB stakeholders on 8 May and farming organisations on 22 May with a view to agreeing an action plan for bovine TB on the most effective concrete measures to mitigate the impact of bTB on farm families and to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease.
At these meetings I presented 5 key measures to address the current rates of bTB:
Support herds free of bTB to remain free
Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a TB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
Help farmers improve all areas of on farm biosecurity
Reduce the impact of known high risk animals in spreading bTB
The discussions I had at these meetings have fed into a TB plan that I intend to finalise the details of this plan and publish this shortly.
At a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday 24th June I received the approval of government to address the current high level of bovine TB with this plan.
I will ensure that any measures adopted are based on the best scientific and veterinary advice.
Through strong leadership by all involved in the programme and by working together we can take the necessary measures to protect farmers livelihoods from bTB. These measures will be formulated with a view to taking the most effective yet practical measures to control and reduce bovine TB and to allow us in time to refocus on the eradication of this disease.