Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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534. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a farmer (details supplied) in County Tipperary has been subject to a number of TB herd tests from 2016; the reason restrictions on their farm remain in place despite passing the herd tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31649/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme is a critical component in protecting and growing markets for Irish beef which was worth €2.7 billion in 2017. My Department is committed to continuing its efforts to eradicate bovine TB by 2030 through partnership with all stakeholders. Eradication of bovine TB would represent a significant boost to Irish farmers. This objective will only be met through appropriate, targeted measures which can mitigate against the spread of bovine TB.

Irish research has shown, that herds that have experienced a High Risk breakdown (2 or more infected animals with infection acquired and/or transmitted within the herd) are at increased risk of having further TB breakdowns and that the longer an animal remains in such a herd following a clear test the greater the likelihood of infection in that animal.

On foot of the research mentioned above, my Department amended its policy regarding testing of high risk herds. Under existing arrangements high risk herds are required to undergo 3 herd tests at 6 monthly intervals over the 18 months succeeding de-restriction.  This change was introduced in order to mitigate the risk of diseased animals moving out to other herds and spreading infection.  A herd is classified as high risk when it has within herd acquisition of TB infection and spread as evidenced by 2 or more TB infected animals (standard SICTT reactors or TB lesions in other animals in the herd or trace back to the herd) at a breakdown.

The herdowner in question came out of TB breakdown in December 2016 and the herd went into a post de-restriction testing regime as outlined above.

On 27 February 2018 the herdowner in question was issued with a TB test notification letter to have a Classification Related Special Check Test completed on their herd by 7 April 2018. To-date this test has not been carried out and therefore the trade status of the herd has been suspended. This suspension will remain in place until a clear test is carried out on the herd.