Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1038. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number and the number by county of cattle condemned as TB reactors in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13456/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The attached file provides the number of reactors by county from 2010 to 2020. While disease levels are low relative to historical levels, the number of reactors has been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020.

Outbreaks of bovine TB within each county require a range of actions to address the problem. Within each county, the TB programme focuses on wildlife, how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and frequency and isolation of reactors. Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of outbreaks involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and necessary measures to assist in reducing the risk of recurrence.

My Department is engaged with all stakeholders through the TB Forum. The recently launched Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 is a step towards the eradication of the disease. This new TB Strategy and further information is available on www.bovinetb.ie