Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hope that we make significant progress in the year ahead. The Deputy is correct that part of the increased expenditure is due to the reduction in the European allocation towards the TB eradication programme. The increased costs are also due to the additional reactor herds and there are increased costs around that because of compensation. Broadly the number of tests remains similar even though there has been an increase in the number of reactors. We agreed a new TB strategy working with the farm organisations in the last couple of months after much engagement. There are three new working groups, including an implementation working group where all the stakeholders are represented to implement the TB strategy and address the situation where we have seen reactor rates go from 3.5% of all herd to 4.5% in the last 12 months, which is a really worrying trend and one which we must drive in the other direction.