Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2025
301. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the incidence of TB has increased since the introduction of the TB eradication programme in 1962; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64178/25]
View answer302. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the incidences of TB that have been identified in Ireland between 2010 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64179/25]
View answer303. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herds that have been affected by TB in Ireland annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64180/25]
View answer304. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle diagnosed with signs of TB for each year from 2010 to November 2025, in tabular form; the percentage of Irish cattle diagnosed with TB for each year from 2010 to November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64181/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301, 302, 303 and 304 together.
Bovine TB (bTB) is a difficult disease to control and eradicate but it can and has been done in other countries, I am very aware of the devastating impact bTB has on farmers and their families.
The TB eradication programme was launched in Ireland in 1954, in 1962 there were over 169,000 reactors which fell to its lowest level in 2015 with over 15,000 reactors. However since 2015 disease levels have increased. As at 9 November 2025, over a 12 month period herd incidence has fallen below 6% having started to reduce in recent months.
Following extensive engagement with stakeholders and farming organisations to agree measures to tackle the current disease levels, I published the "Bovine TB Action Plan Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland” on 9 September.
I secured an increased budget for the bTB programme in Budget 2026 totalling €157 million. This will allow the revamped programme to focus on tackling disease levels through the implementation of the measures laid out in the new bTB Action Plan.
The table attached details Bovine TB statistics from 2010 to 9 November 2025.
