Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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183. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers culled, by county, in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of these badgers found dead in the snares; and the number that were alive and were killed by gunshot or other method. [44292/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to clarify that my Department does not use snares for the capture of badgers.

All badgers captured are caught using a stopped body restraint. Badgers that are dispatched, are done so in a humane manner, either by the use of a licensed firearm or by the administration of IV barbiturates by a Veterinary Inspector.

DAFM does not record if a badger is alive or dead in a restraint in a culling area. Please see tables below for number of badger culled in the cull areas for 2022 and 2023 to date

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify the methods used to kill badgers snared by Departmental operatives; what happens to the remains of the badgers; and what terms and conditions are attached to the licence issued by the NPWS which facilitates the killing. [44293/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to clarify that my Department does not use snares for the capture of badgers.

All badgers captured are caught using a stopped body restraint. Badgers that are dispatched, are done so in a humane manner, either by the use of a licensed firearm or by the administration of IV barbiturates by a Veterinary Inspector. All badger carcasses are sent to either the Irish Equine Centre or one of the regional veterinary laboratories for post mortem examination.

There are multiple terms and conditions attached to the licence issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The purpose of these is to ensure that:

• The NPWS are informed of numbers and locations of badgers captured
• That the conditions laid down in various wildlife acts, regulations and statutory instruments are adhered to
• That procedures are followed to mitigate any risks to humans or domestic animals
• That procedures are followed to ensure there is no unnecessary suffering or stress for any badgers captured

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a badger cull is intended to go ahead in 2024. [44294/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of factors which can contribute to an outbreak of bovine TB. There is irrefutable evidence that links badgers to the spread of bovine TB through badger to cattle transmission.

Many other juristictions cull badgers in order to control the spread of TB from badgers to cattle. DAFM, however, acknowledged that this is not a sustainable long term solution to the problem. DAFM funded extensive research into the use of the BCG vaccine to protect badgers against bovine TB. Following positive results DAFM rolled out a badger vaccination programme in 2019. The studies showed that vaccination of badgers is most effective in areas with lower rates of TB prevalence among both badgers and cattle.

This means, however, that some high TB incidence areas remain unsuitable for vaccine. Badger culling will continue in these areas in 2024 as the need arises.