Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to support farmers in complying with new tuberculosis, TB, regulations. [53261/22]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister will be aware that one of the most hotly discussed topics in marts and elsewhere at the moment concerns the new TB regulations. I would appreciate it if he outlined his proposals to ensure farmers will not be financially penalised in the implementation of these new regulations.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I am very much aware of the acute stress caused by a TB breakdown on a farm, and I am committed to driving down TB rates. Everyone in the industry is single-minded in their ambition to reduce the incidence of TB.

As a result of EU Animal Health Law Regulation 2016/429, new requirements concerning TB testing have been introduced. These regulations came into effect in April 2021 and are directly applicable to all EU member states.

The bovine TB stakeholders forum, which comprises representatives from across the agrifood sector, leading researchers and officials from my Department, has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis. The requirements of phase 1 are that cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months moving from farm to farm or through a mart must have been TB tested in the last six months and must also be moving from a herd that has been tested in the last six months. If the animal being moved does not meet the requirements, it must be TB tested 30 days prior to, or 30 days after, movement into the new herd. The animal is restricted to the receiving herd until the test is complete and clear.

The regulations are being introduced in two phases. Phase 1 is to be implemented on 1February 2023. A campaign to inform farmers of these new requirements is being rolled out.Farmers will be notified of the requirements by way of an email or hard-copy leaflet containing "frequently asked questions" whose answers will explain the requirements. Farmers will also receive a text message with a link to the leaflet and "frequently asked questions" on the Government's bovine TB website, . There will also be a number of media articles concerning the requirements. Farmers can also contact their regional veterinary office for information and advice. No date has yet been set for phase 2 which will see the rule applied to all animals. Phase 2 will commence only following engagement with farm organisations. These new requirements are aimed at reducing the level of transmissible disease in animals, including bovines. The financial working group of the TB forum is examining the financial aspects of the programme to ensure a sustainable funding model for it is developed.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister is of course right that farmers are incredibly stressed when there is a TB outbreak on the farm, but they are also stressed by the failure to get on top of this issue. Since 2016, the TB eradication programme has cost around €100 million per year. It is estimated that expenditure up to 2030 will amount to a further €1 billion. The EU has reduced its contributions to the scheme precisely because it has not been working. Therefore, it is crucial that when we are talking about putting in place punitive measures, we have the evidence that they are going to make a difference. There have been major costs affecting individual farmers, the sector as a whole and the Minister's Department in terms of resources. What step-by-step analysis is the Minister carrying out to ensure the burdens being placed on farmers are having the desired effect?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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TB rates have been going in the wrong direction in the past few years. That is not acceptable. The objective of a TB eradication programme has to be to eradicate the disease or see figures go down. It is important that we follow the science on how to make progress on this issue. The re-establishment of the TB working group, comprising representatives of all the farm organisations and key experts, is important in determining how to step this out. The Deputy is correct that farmers, whenever taking these steps, need to be confident and assured that they will make a difference, prevent the transmission of TB and drive down the incidence rate. Pretty much all the steps taken and discussed by the TB working group are based on the scientific research and advice. New tools should enable us to make real progress in this regard. It is important that people work together and that the approach be science led.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The key word is "partnership". This has to be seen as a partnership. It is impossible to quantify the damage done as a result of the categorisation letters issued by the Department. I realise that was before the Minister's time but relationships need to be mended. Lest people believe farmers are not contributing, they should note that in 2020, farmers contributed €37 million directly towards testing. They are paying €8 million annually in disease levies.

The labour contribution that goes into it is unrecognised and not taken into account, but it has been valued at €20 million per annum. Farmers are as frustrated as anyone that the figures on the other side of the balance sheet showing TB numbers are going in the wrong direction. It would be useful if the Minister could give an assurance that he is doing everything in his power to ensure there will be no additional cost burden on farmers, given that the regulations in themselves are enough of a burden.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is no doubt that it is farm families that suffer the consequences of a TB outbreak. That is very damaging from a financial point of view. There is a significant contribution for farmers on an ongoing basis in regard to the testing regime. It is important that everybody works together in a spirit of partnership. That is why the work is done in a TB forum. I recognise the contribution of all of those who have taken part. They have worked in a very constructive spirit. They are grappling with some challenging issues and they are considering measures which can make a difference, but which will require everybody to recognise that and come together.

Issues relating to finance and cost are being addressed within the finance working group stream of the forum. I look forward to continuing to work with the forum and its working groups on how we can make progress. Thankfully, we are starting to see figures going in the right direction and I hope it will increase and we will see real progress in the time ahead. Ultimately, that is how we will support farmers and benefit everyone.