Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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167. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which various contributory factors have been identified in outbreaks of bovine TB nationwide; the extent to which the performance here compares with all other jurisdictions throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24414/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has had many successful years of reducing bovine TB levels to the benefit of Irish farmers. However there has been a concerning incremental increase in the disease since 2016. This has continued in 2020 with further increases in herd incidence and reactor numbers observed. Herd incidence (on a 12-month rolling basis) has breached 4% for the first time since 2012 and reactor numbers have exceeded 20,000 – the highest number since 2009.  

The reasons why this is happening are multifactorial and often relate to local factors. The expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has played a role in this, since dairy herds, larger herds, and herds which introduce more cattle, are all more at risk of bTB breakdowns. 52% of all bTB reactors in 2019 were in dairy herds, while there were approximately 2.8 million farm-to-farm cattle movements last year.

These trends highlight the need for urgent action by all stakeholders to manage the risk more effectively across all transmission routes.  Cattle can become infected with TB in a number of ways such as  

- Close contact with other cattle which are infected, including residually infected cattle from previous breakdowns

- Contact with infected wildlife, such as cattle accessing badger setts and latrines at pasture, or badgers accessing unsecured cattle feed stores within the farmyard

- Moving infected animals into a previously clear herd;

- Contact with other infected animals in neighbouring herds, such as across fences;

- Sharing machinery or facilities between farms

We know the risks that contribute to increased herd incidence from many years of scientific research. Risks must be addressed both by national policy changes and by actions at farm level.  As we enter into the decade towards 2030 this is a pivotal year for Ireland’s bTB Eradication programme and it is critical that, through working in partnership, all stakeholders take the necessary actions to reduce disease transmission, protect herds from new infections, and clear bTB from restricted herds.

Farmers have the power to reduce the risk of bTB spreading to cattle and can take a number of steps to protect their herd from disease along with protecting themselves from the stress and financial difficulties of a bTB breakdown. See www.bovinetb.iefor information on ways in which risks may be reduced.

Whilst the immediate trends are disappointing and worrying, great progress has been made over the past decade. During 2009, 5,860 herds were subject to restriction whilst the number in 2019 was 4,060.  By working together, we have made progress before and we can do so again.  

Details of Bovine TB disease levels in other EU member states can be found at the following link:

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