Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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470. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outbreaks of bovine TB identified in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which investigation into the causes has yielded results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17301/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I draw the Deputy’s attention to PQ Ref 60483/21 which he tabled on 6^thDecember 2021 regarding the extent to which my Department has identified the causes for the spread of bovine TB.

This disease causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families, and my Department, working together with stakeholders and engaging with farmers, are committed to eradicating this disease.

The table below details the number of herds experiencing a new restriction, due to bovine TB, since 1st January each year, by county over the past 5 years to the end of 2021 and the number of reactors related to these restrictions.

While TB disease is low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers gradually increased between 2016 and the end of 2020. There was encouraging signs in 2021 as TB levels were lower than in 2020, with fewer reactors and a lower herd incidence.

The 12 month rolling herd incidence at 26^thDecember 2021 was 4.34% compared to 4.37% on 27^thDecember 2020, while the overall number of reactors on 26^thDecember 2021 was 20,875 compared to 23,055 on 27^thDecember 2020.

If downward momentum can be maintained, it will reflect the progress achieved by the renewed TB Eradication Strategy launched in January 2021. Implementation of this strategy is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum with support from three working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. We now have the building blocks in place to lower disease incidence and reduce the challenges associated with a TB restriction.

The reasons for increase in disease over the last number of years are multifactorial and often relate to a combination of national and local factors.

The expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has played a role in this, since dairy herds, larger herds, fragmented farms and herds which introduce more cattle are all more at risk of TB breakdowns. Wildlife is also a factor.

The causes of TB outbreaks are, as I said, multi-factorial, varying from county to county, and even within counties, and requiring a range of actions to address the problem.

Within each county, the TB programme focuses on testing compliance and frequency, isolation of reactors, wildlife, how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, forward and backward tracing of risk animals, gamma interferon testing and cleansing and disinfection.

Each TB outbreak is investigated by a Department Veterinary Inspector to identify the source of infection. In every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, a veterinarian visits the farm, to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and on the measures needed to help reduce the risk of recurrence.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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471. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tests are being carried out among the national deer herd with particular reference to the spread of bovine TB; the number of tests that have been carried out on the deer herd in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17302/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Whilst badgers are the primary wildlife focus in the bovine TB eradication programme, a certain level of surveillance takes place in deer. In 2020, 130 deer were submitted to the Department's Regional Veterinary Laboratories and three were positive for TB. In 2021,125 deer were submitted and 12 were positive for TB. Of the 15 positive animals, 10 were from County Wicklow and one each from Counties Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny.

In relation to wider issues of wild deer management and control, I have asked my officials to work with their colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to establish a stakeholder discussion body to follow up on the work of the Irish Deer Management Forum. This new stakeholder group will be established in the coming months.

In addition, my Department is funding research on deer ecology in Ireland. This project, which is being carried out by scientists in UCD, will help to provide an evidence base for those considering wild deer management issues.