Written answers
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Animal Diseases
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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757. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department has in place to identify and eradicate Johne’s disease in cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58741/21]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Johne’s disease is present in Ireland. Recent research conducted in Ireland would suggest that just over a quarter of herds contain at least one positive animal. A voluntary disease control programme, the Irish Johne’s Control Programme (IJCP), is available for all herds to participate.
The programme is coordinated and administered by Animal Health Ireland on behalf of stakeholders, with shared funding between industry and government. The programme supports disease prevention and containment practices to control the spread of Johne’s disease in the country.
All Irish dairy herds are encouraged to register with the IJCP. The IJCP is also available to beef herds.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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758. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of instances of Johne’s disease within the State for the years 2017 to date by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58742/21]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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A voluntary national Johne’s disease control programme is coordinated and managed by Animal Health Ireland on behalf of stakeholders.
My Department does not capture national disease incidence figures. A review of cattle carcases submitted to the Department's laboratory service in 2017 identified that nine carcases - 1.6% of overall submission - were diagnosed with Johne's disease.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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759. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory approach to control or eradication of Johne’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58743/21]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Johne’s Disease is listed in Part B of the S.I. No. 130/2016 - Notification and Control of Diseases affecting Terrestrial Animals (No. 2) Regulations 2016. As such, Johne’s Disease control is not subject to compulsory regulation. The Department provides support to the voluntary Irish Johne’s Control programme (IJCP) which is coordinated and managed by Animal Health Ireland on behalf of stakeholders and which is available to all herds.
Details of the programme are set out on the AHI website
animalhealthireland.ie/programmes/johnes-disease/irish-johnes-control-programme-ijcp/
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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760. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the vaccination of livestock against Johne’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58744/21]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Johne’s Disease is caused by infection with Mycobacterium avian subspecies paratuberculosis. Vaccination against Mycobacterium aviam subspecies paratuberculosis is not available in Ireland. The use of vaccination for Johne’s Disease would interfere with the results of tests under the National Tuberculosis Eradication programme.
Thus, there are no plans to licence a Johne’s Disease vaccine currently.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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761. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation that is available to farmers who lose livestock arising from Johne’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58745/21]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department provides financial support to the voluntary national Johne's Disease control programme, which is open to all farmers.
This does not extend to financial support to remove positive animals; there are no current plans to put such support in place.
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