Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
888. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department imposes any restrictions on the culling of badgers during the breeding season from January to March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34816/26]
View answerIreland’s bTB Eradication Programme incorporates a wildlife strategy which includes the removal of badgers from areas where there has been a TB outbreak. The current bovine TB eradication strategy includes a combination of badger culling and vaccination throughout the year.
The current policy is to vaccinate badgers to prevent disease outbreaks and to cull badgers where necessary in response to outbreaks in areas where epidemiological investigations have demonstrated the link between badgers and TB breakdowns on cattle farms. Areas where badger culling may previously have taken place are being incorporated into the badger vaccination programme on an ongoing basis but only when any underlying disease spread to cattle from wildlife has been suppressed.
During the badger breeding season from 1st February to 31st March each year, culling is not carried out at any main setts in areas newly added to the licenced badger capture areas.
