Mr. Michael Cronin:

The second element of the strategy was reducing cattle-to-cattle spread. A strengthening approach to cattle-to-cattle spread was facilitated by a number of new targeted risk-based policies that specifically addressed the risk of recurrence of herds experiencing a restriction significantly in access of the average. The third element was tackling disease transmission via wildlife, that is, badgers and deer, and biosecurity to prevent further spread. The fourth element was high-impact TB plans and specific stakeholders meeting with regional veterinary officers. The fifth element was improved communications. The final element was consideration of the financials around the TB scheme, and this was a major focus of the financial working group. Further to that, there was to be regular monitoring and evaluation of the policies carried out by the implementation working group.

Since the new strategy was set up in 2021, the TB forum has met approximately three times per year. The working groups work alongside the TB forum. Specifically, the scientific working group has carried out a number of very important and valuable scientific reports on behalf of the forum.

The deer forum was set up within the past two years. It has a remit to examine issues affecting sustainable management of wild deer. Part of this remit is the control of deer numbers necessary to prevent the spread of TB from deer to cattle and from cattle to deer. In this regard, the TB forum worked closely with the deer forum. This is now a matter primarily for the deer management forum.

Over the past few years, as the committee will be aware, we have seen a significant increase in TB levels. Over 41,600 reactors were disclosed in 2024, which was a 44 % increase on reactor numbers from 2023. Due to the dramatic increase in TB levels, a number of special meetings-----