Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
343. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update in relation to TB eradication scheme; the cost of the scheme from 2021 to 2026; the number of farmers compensated on that time; the number of reactors of that time per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51850/26]
View answerBovine TB (bTB) is an ongoing emotional and financial challenge for Irish farmers. In recent years there has been a significant increase in bTB levels nationally. The reasons underpinning current high levels of bTB incidence are the expansion of the dairy herd resulting in increased levels of intensive cattle farming and the increased movement of cattle. These conditions allow heightened susceptibility to disease, whether that is TB or any other infectious disease. In 2025 there were 37,834 reactors compared with 20,931 in 2021. The table below shows the number of reactors per county for each year from 2021 to date 28th June 2026.
To address these high disease levels, I launched the ‘Bovine TB Action Plan: Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland’ in September 2025 it includes 5 measures and 30 actions underpinned by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. The aim of the Action Plan is to reset the TB programme by putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation.
There has been encouraging progress in recent months in reducing bTB levels. As of 28th June 2026 over a 12-month period the herd incidence was 5.32% down from 6.40% and the number of herds restricted was 5,300 down 17.82% from 6,449. This is due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders in engaging with farmers to reduce the risk bTB poses to Irish herds and rural communities.
My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The primary support scheme is the On Farm Market Valuation scheme where animals removed as reactors receive compensation subject to scheme ceilings equivalent to their market value in the event they were not disclosed as TB reactors. In 2025 of the 39,790 animals valued under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme just over 91% of animals were valued below the scheme ceilings.
In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on their farm;
The Income Supplement Scheme is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown.
The Hardship Grant is a targeted scheme aimed at assisting eligible herd-owners who retain and feed animals during prolonged periods of restriction as a result of a TB breakdown and that have more animals than the same period in the previous year. The scheme runs each year for herds restricted between November 1st and April 30th.
Depopulation Grant is paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measure and for those herds that are partial or fully depopulated on foot of a veterinary decision made on analysis of the overall TB disease situation within a herd.
Due to the increased cost of the bTB programme in recent years, the focus at present is on reducing the levels of disease which will reduce the impact of bTB on Irish farm families.
The cost of the TB Eradication Programme for years 2021 and as of 30th of June 2026 can be found in the table below along with a table outing the number of Herdowners compensated during that time.
Number of reactors per county for each year from 2021 to date 28th June 2026:
|
COUNTY |
Provisional Number of Reactors as of 28th June 2026 |
Number of Reactors Year 2025 |
Number of Reactors Year 2024 |
Number of Reactors Year 2023 |
Number of Reactors Year 2022 |
Number of Reactors Year 2021 |
|
COUNTY |
Provisional Number of Reactors as of 28th June 2026 |
Number of Reactors Year 2025 |
Number of Reactors Year 2024 |
Number of Reactors Year 2023 |
Number of Reactors Year 2022 |
Number of Reactors Year 2021 |
|
CARLOW |
245 |
371 |
133 |
144 |
77 |
81 |
|
CAVAN |
390 |
1,404 |
1418 |
1,171 |
528 |
851 |
|
CLARE |
479 |
1,110 |
1395 |
1,084 |
672 |
631 |
|
CORK North |
1436 |
3,249 |
3614 |
2,898 |
2,596 |
3,003 |
|
CORK South |
653 |
2,231 |
4004 |
2,916 |
1,448 |
1,820 |
|
DONEGAL |
244 |
570 |
453 |
524 |
261 |
371 |
|
DUBLIN |
170 |
178 |
178 |
181 |
265 |
186 |
|
GALWAY |
503 |
2,315 |
1804 |
1,148 |
1,053 |
1,070 |
|
KERRY |
962 |
4,275 |
2691 |
1,758 |
1,802 |
1,282 |
|
KILDARE |
413 |
516 |
513 |
375 |
257 |
245 |
|
KILKENNY |
480 |
1,503 |
2046 |
1,396 |
1,539 |
551 |
|
LAOIS |
601 |
1,438 |
1356 |
1,273 |
454 |
541 |
|
LEITRIM |
148 |
356 |
431 |
256 |
358 |
276 |
|
LIMERICK |
551 |
1,299 |
2148 |
1,422 |
1,570 |
923 |
|
LONGFORD |
301 |
783 |
911 |
476 |
309 |
302 |
|
LOUTH |
221 |
413 |
451 |
360 |
238 |
173 |
|
MAYO |
234 |
977 |
866 |
525 |
473 |
456 |
|
MEATH |
942 |
3,085 |
2465 |
1,669 |
1,359 |
881 |
|
MONAGHAN |
682 |
1,384 |
1606 |
1,445 |
905 |
758 |
|
OFFALY |
283 |
868 |
859 |
598 |
542 |
695 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
204 |
699 |
613 |
525 |
278 |
385 |
|
SLIGO |
181 |
431 |
549 |
374 |
327 |
282 |
|
TIPP NORTH |
368 |
1,756 |
4082 |
1,301 |
832 |
1,092 |
|
TIPP SOUTH |
1184 |
1,671 |
1993 |
1,116 |
1,535 |
875 |
|
WATERFORD |
339 |
1,319 |
1127 |
517 |
686 |
616 |
|
WESTMEATH |
414 |
891 |
1013 |
473 |
842 |
683 |
|
WEXFORD |
680 |
694 |
1111 |
945 |
808 |
383 |
|
WICKLOW East |
632 |
1,173 |
800 |
1,197 |
716 |
1,099 |
|
WICKLOW West |
718 |
875 |
1052 |
834 |
663 |
420 |
|
TOTAL |
14,658 |
37,834 |
41,682 |
28,901 |
23,393 |
20,931 |
Cost of TB Eradication Programme for years 2021 to 30th of June 2026: Expenditure ('000)
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
As of 30/06/2026 |
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
As of 30/06/2026 |
|
Compensation - Other |
€4,206 |
€3,641 |
€5,070 |
€9,662 |
€14,716 |
€5,761 |
|
Vet Fees - Testing |
€9,856 |
€13,574 |
€13,262 |
€14,623 |
€18,733 |
€6,155 |
|
Supplies |
€6,830 |
€8,103 |
€10,629 |
€8,615 |
€10,845 |
€1,890 |
|
Research |
€1,862 |
€1,131 |
€832 |
€1,798 |
€1,777 |
€39 |
|
On Farm Market Valuation |
€21,890 |
€22,880 |
€34,747 |
€54,348 |
€62,782 |
€28,980 |
|
Valuer Fees |
€747 |
€660 |
€818 |
€1,181 |
€1,211 |
€443 |
|
Wildlife |
€6,026 |
€6,407 |
€7,674 |
€9,171 |
€8,473 |
€4,109 |
|
Other Costs |
€1,072 |
€1,052 |
€1,252 |
€1,218 |
€3,450 |
€1,161 |
|
Total |
€52,489 |
€57,448 |
€74,284 |
€100,616 |
€121,987 |
€48,538 |
No of Herdowners Compensated in Years 2021 to 30th of June 2026.
|
Scheme |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
As of 30/06/2026 |
Total |
|
Scheme |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
As of 30/06/2026 |
Total |
|
On Farm Market Valuation |
3618 |
3319 |
4001 |
4942 |
5038 |
2150 |
23,068 |
|
Income Supplement |
1120 |
954 |
1149 |
1643 |
1959 |
1034 |
7,859 |
|
Depopulation Grant |
22 |
28 |
35 |
39 |
39 |
20 |
183 |
|
Hardship Grant |
1266 |
1036 |
1056 |
1732 |
3210 |
2722 |
11,022 |
