Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
95. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the bovine TB incidence rates in 2019 and 2025, and the related new obligations that have been introduced since 2019. [35780/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBovine 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. TB Herd Incidence at the end of 2019 stood at 3.72%. This compares to a rate of 6.02% for 2024 and 5.72% for 2025.
The recent reduction reflects the combined efforts of all stakeholders in communicating and acting on scientific advice on the necessary steps we all can take to reduce the risk of bTB on Irish farms.
Since 2019 a number of new policies were introduced as follows:
• Aligning changes with EU Animal Law bTB regulations introduced that cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months required additional testing.
• The use of Gamma Interferon Test (GIF test), which is a blood test to detect bovine TB (bTB) infection. The level of bTB infection in the herd determines whether the GIF test will be used. It is used in herds where bTB is present and has spread within the group of cattle tested.
• GIF testing has also been extended to reduce the risk from inconclusive animals.
In addition to these measures the Financial Working Group agreed on a number of enhancements to the suite of compensation measures available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown in 2023.
With the recent increased levels of disease, I launched the ‘Bovine TB Action Plan: Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland’ in September 2025.
The aim of the Action Plan is to reset the TB programme by putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation.
As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, on 13 April 2026 there were a number of changes introduced to animal testing and animal movement requirements to the bTB programme to reduce the transmission of bTB from cattle to cattle including:
• The removal of the post-movement test option for all cows and for males over 36 months of age.
• All dairy cows moving into a breeding herd will require a 30-day pre-movement test.
• 30-day pre-movement testing for contract reared heifers.
• The introduction of mandatory GIF testing in large breakdowns of breeding herds (this will apply to herds in a bTB restriction on or after 13 April 2026).
• Restriction on sale of exposed cohorts where GIF tests are carried out in larger breeding herds for a period of two years after the removal of the last reactor (this will apply to herds in a bTB restriction on or after 13 April 2026).
I believe that, working collaboratively with stakeholders, we can further bring down the incidence of Bovine TB.
