Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herds restricted due to TB; the number of restricted herds that took in cattle between the date of their last clear test and the date on which they were initially restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9025/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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1808 herds are currently restricted due to TB; 1367 of these herds had inward movement of cattle into the herd between the date of their last clear test and the date on which they were subsequently restricted.

While the levels of bovine TB in Ireland in the past few years are at historic lows, progress has stalled and the herd incidence of TB in 2018 (3.51%) was marginally up on the level in 2017 (3.47%). The need to renew our TB eradication strategy is the reason I put in place the TB Forum, so that stakeholders can be involved in deciding which additional measures to recommend which will help eradicate TB. The Forum has held a number of meetings since last September and I understand its work is nearing completion in the coming period. It is my intention that a renewed TB eradication strategy which takes into account the recommendations of the Forum will enjoy the support of stakeholders and make a real difference to Irish farmers by reducing the levels of bovine TB.