Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important and relevant issue. As he said, the tuberculosis eradication scheme has been in place in Ireland since the mid-1950s. This and other measures have led to major improvements in tuberculosis levels in the cattle herd. Reactor numbers have fallen significantly in recent years from 44,000 a year in 2008 and 2009 to approximately 15,000 to 17,000 reactors in the past two to three years. In the same period the herd incidence has reduced from 6% to 3.5%, meaning that thousands more farmers are now not affected by the stresses associated with a tuberculosis breakdown. This is a positive development and we are keen to see this trend continue in support of the farming community.

As a member state with bovine tuberculosis, Ireland is required under EU law to have a tuberculosis eradication scheme to facilitate trade. The tuberculosis eradication programme is consistently the largest animal health programme run by the Department. This reflects how acutely aware we are both of the financial and mental stress for a farmer associated with a tuberculosis breakdown. The Department has a range of financial supports available for farmers whose herds experience a tuberculosis breakdown. The Department works very closely with the farming community in ensuring the risk of spread of bovine tuberculosis is curtailed as much as possible in line with the available scientific evidence. For example, earlier this year, County Monaghan was identified as an area with elevated levels of tuberculosis. Through in-depth consultation with stakeholders, a specific tuberculosis control plan for County Monaghan was developed and is being actively implemented.

Bovine tuberculosis is a complex disease and it is not possible to attribute the decline in the incidence of the disease to any single factor. Nevertheless, the main factors involved appear to be the wildlife control policy, improved testing regimes and access to data and technology such as the animal health computer system. It is important to acknowledge that the major reduction in disease levels is thanks to the co-operation of all stakeholders, in particular farmers, private veterinary practitioners and Department officials. We now need to build on the excellent progress that has been made and enhance our efforts further in order to achieve eradication, which we think is an attainable target with all the tools we have at our disposal. The Minister, Deputy Creed, has set the ambitious target of eradicating TB entirely by 2030 and, in order to help achieve this, he recently received approval from the Government to set up a TB stakeholder forum. This forum is being independently chaired by Mr. Michael Cronin and held its first meeting in early September of this year. Encouragingly, it has been broadly welcomed by all members. It is the intention of the forum to provide the Minister with proposals in early 2019 that can achieve eradication of bovine TB by 2030. These proposals will be considered very closely with a view to finalising a TB 2030 eradication strategy shortly thereafter.

I want to reassure the Senator we are firmly committed to eradicating bovine TB. We want to ensure that many more farmers will be saved from the challenges associated with a TB outbreak over the coming years.